Citrus Workers Can Seek Aid, INS Decides
The Immigration and Naturalization Service has ruled that recently legalized aliens receiving assistance as a result of the devastating Christmas freeze will not be barred from obtaining legal residence in the United States.
The ruling is being called a first step toward getting farm workers assistance after tumbling temperatures devastated the citrus industry and threw up to 15,000 out of work. To date, no public assistance has been available.
Section 210(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act says newly legalized immigrants are prohibited for five years from receiving food stamps, Aid to Families With Dependent Children and MediCal. The law contains no contingency plan for disasters such as the freeze.
Many farm workers fear that asking for assistance will endanger their legal status in this country because the law says receiving public cash assistance could make them “public charges,” which the law prohibits.
Sen. John Seymour (R-Calif.) and Rep. Calvin Dooley (D-Fresno) both wrote to the INS about the farm workers’ plight. Although Section 210(f) has not been waived, the INS assured both legislators that receiving disaster emergency aid will not affect residency status.
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