No public benefits to undocumented immigrants-Arizona Governor

United States, 17th August: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer openly defied US President Barack Obama by denying public benefits to all undocumented immigrants.

Among the privileges robbed from undocumented immigrants include driver’s licenses, identity cards and other state public benefits in Arizona.

No driver licenses, ID cards for undocumented immigrants—As per an executive order issued by Arizona governor Brewer, all state agencies have been ordered not to provide public benefits including driver’s licenses to young undocumented immigrants getting US work permits(for a temporary period) under the latest policy of US administration.

Among the benefits from which undocumented immigrants applying for federal program will be debarred include state-subsidized child care, jobless benefits, insurance programs for children health, professional and business licenses and government contracts.

Young undocumented immigrants in Arizona are not entitled to receive public benefits because they are not granted legal status as per the deferred action policy of President Obama, said Brewer.

She further cited that Arizona’s budget, Arizona’s health care system and other public benefits will be affected significantly by nearly 80,000 recipients of US deferred action.

A big blow to the DREAMERS--Her order is a big blow to hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants hoping to get temporary work permits along with a temporary relief from deportation threat just when the process of making applications for US work permits has begun on 15th August.

The US deferred enforcement program puts a temporary halt to deportations of undocumented immigrants living in the US for a minimum of five years, have come to the US before 16 years of age, are enrolled in a school, US school graduates or serving in the military.

As per current US immigration laws, immigrants living in Arizona are entitled to state identification provided they can submit proof that they are in Arizona legally, states Arizona Department of Transportation.

Arizona Gov. only clarifying?—Meanwhile, Brewer’s official spokesperson Matthew Benson stated that the governor is rather making clarifications with regard to Arizona immigration norms in order to defend the law.

How can she undo the law formulated by the US President?, quipped Benson.

The only thing is that she is making things clearer by saying that those living in the US unlawfully have no right to get public benefits and unnecessarily burden US nationals, Benson maintained.