Brewer blocks undocumented immigrants from receiving public benefits
Published August 16, 2012
FoxNews.com

Aug. 15, 2012: Student protestors walk towards the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix after Gov. Jan Brewer issued an executive order. (AP)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Wednesday ordered state agencies to deny driver's licenses and other public benefits to young illegal immigrants who obtain work authorizations under a new Obama administration policy.

In an executive order, Brewer said she was reaffirming the intent of current Arizona law denying taxpayer-funded public benefits and state identification to illegal immigrants.

Young illegal immigrants around the nation on Wednesday began the process of applying for federal work permits under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The federal policy defers deportations for that group if they meet certain criteria, including arrival in the United States before they turned 16 and no convictions for certain crimes.

After President Barack Obama announced the policy change in June, Brewer labeled it "backdoor amnesty" and political pandering by the Democratic president.

Arizona has been in the vanguard of states enacting laws against illegal immigration.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned parts of the Arizona enforcement law known as SB1070 but ruled that a key provision on requiring police to ask people about their immigration status under certain circumstances can be implemented.

The Obama administration challenged that law in 2010 after Brewer signed it into law.

In the past decade, Arizona voters twice approved laws denying publicly funded services, such as in-state resident university tuition rates, to illegal immigrants unless mandated by the federal government.

Brewer's order said the policy's federal paperwork doesn't confer lawful status on illegal immigrants and won't entitle them to Arizona public benefits.

However, it said the policy change "could result in some unlawfully present aliens inappropriately gaining access to public benefits contrary to the intent of Arizona voters and lawmakers who enacted laws expressly restricting access to taxpayer funded benefits and state identification."

Brewer directed state agencies to start any necessary emergency rulemaking processes to implement her order.

State Rep. Catherine Miranda, who supports the federal program, called Brewer's action mean-spirited.

"She just continues to put obstacles in front of young people in Arizona," the Phoenix Democrat said.

Rep. Martin Quezada, D-Phoenix, said he questioned whether the order would have much practical effect under Arizona's current laws. But he said it served to demonize good kids who should be allowed to get state-issued identification and enter the workforce.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/16/brewer-blocks-undocumented-immigrants-from-receiving-benefits/?test=latestnews#ixzz23kugggbv

Illegal immigrants line up at consulates across country for 'DREAM'-er applications
Published August 15, 2012
FoxNews.com




Day one of president's new immigration policy

Applications begin for deferred deportation...
Young illegal immigrants are lining up by the thousands at consulates across the country to take advantage of the Obama administration program allowing them to apply for a two-year reprieve from deportation.

As many as 1.8 million undocumented immigrants could be eligible for the program, which kicked off Wednesday. Under the new rules, applicants can fill out a six-page form, pay a $465 fee and submit documents proving their identity in order to qualify.

Immigration officials say the documents will be closely scrutinized, given the potential for fraud, but there is no uniform standard. Applicants are supposed to show they arrived in the U.S. before they were 16, and that they're enrolled in school or vocational training, or have a high school degree.

The lines began forming on Tuesday, as illegal immigrants tried to get a leg up in seeking their passport applications.

"We are waiting for our passports. We want to get our passport because Obama might be asking for them," applicant Kristi Alarcon told MyFoxHouston, as she stood in line outside Houston's Mexican consulate.

According to MyFox Los Angeles, advocates were holding workshops in Los Angeles Wednesday on how to apply.

The crowds Tuesday and Wednesday are the most visible demonstration to date of how many people are interested in applying for the administration's new reprieve program -- which is effectively a version of the DREAM Act, which failed to clear Congress.

The requirements are not quite as stringent as those in the original DREAM Act.

Applicants must be in school, or have a high school diploma or GED -- or be a military veteran. They can't have a felony record, but a record with fewer than three minor misdemeanors is not disqualifying.

Under the DREAM Act, applicants needed to not only show a high school diploma or GED, but after a six-year period they had to show they had attended college or served in the military for at least two years.

Republican lawmakers have accused Obama of circumventing Congress with the new program in an effort to boost his political standing and of favoring illegal immigrants over unemployed U.S. citizens.

Some, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, have called the policy backdoor amnesty and said they worry about fraud.

"While potentially millions of illegal immigrants will be permitted to compete with American workers for scarce jobs, there seems to be little if any mechanism in place for vetting fraudulent applications and documentation submitted by illegal immigrants," Smith said Tuesday.

Homeland Security announced the details Tuesday of what documents illegal immigrants would need to prove that they are eligible for the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The announcement came a day before U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services was set to begin letting people apply for the program.

The program is beginning just months before what promises to be a tight contest for the White House in which the Hispanic vote may play an important role.

Obama has come under fire from Hispanic voters and others who say he hasn't fulfilled a previous campaign promise to overhaul the nation's immigration laws.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/08/15/illegal-immigrants-line-up-at-consulates-across-country-for-dream-er/?intcmp=related#ixzz23kwEz9iA

Jan brewer is dumber than a coal bucket.and very disrespectful to the president,she will be gone next election!

haha we are still posting on 2008 posts, this is very screwed up,like some other things I can think of!

Jan Brewer is one of many Governors fed up with illegals leaching the system, 1.8 million estimated trying to get a 2 yr. visa, can this country afford this hell no !!! What guarantee is there they will work , or stay in school..NONE !!! At what cost will the so called evaluation of applications be ? more wasted taxpayer money !! Smells political to me since the legal hispanic voters are not happy with Obama.

I guess if we are still rehashing 2008 then that goes to show you things are still in the same shape and no improvement.