Measure intended to reinforce Prop. 200 draws questions

Yuma's lawmakers are skeptical about a proposed bill that would ensure undocumented immigrants don't receive such benefits as unemployment pay, government loans, grants, public housing and food assistance. "I don't think undocumented immigrants go out to those agencies ... for fear of being deported. It's a very difficult situation, but I can understand the frustration for all of us to deal with something so complex," said District 24 Rep. Amanda Aguirre, D-Yuma. Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, plans to introduce the bill because pending court battles could permanently narrow the scope of the anti-immigration measure, according to The Associated Press. The bill is not tied directly to Proposition 200, which avoids a required three-quarters vote of both the House and Senate to change a voter-approved initiative. Voters statewide approved Proposition 200 in November requiring that people present proof of citizenship when registering to vote, when voting and when receiving certain public benefits. The proposition also makes it a class 2 misdemeanor if a government employee fails to make a required report if an illegal alien attempts to register for voting rights or public benefits. "I see (the proposed bill) as a negative thing," said District 24 Sen. Robert Cannell, D-Yuma. "Throwing more salt into the wound is unfortunate." Fernando Quiroz, executive director of American Beginnings, a local nonprofit agency that handles immigration issues, agreed with Aguirre. "The majority of undocu- mented individuals in this state already do not qualify for these benefits," he said. "It's just rhetoric that is happening over and over again." [more]