Prior to the birth of Prop. 200, the party line parroted by the pro-illegal alien lobby has been that illegal immigrants only come here to work. They don't hurt anybody, they don't want anything except to be left alone to work, and that they don't want to seek any taxpayer-funded
benefits. They claim illegal immigrants don't want to call attention to themselves by applying at government agencies.

Yet since Prop. 200 passed, the tune now is that countless illegal immigrant families will be harmed if forced to prove that they are legally entitled to benefits. They are cowering in fear, avoiding the food banks and places where they seek assistance.

Their last resort is to try this in the press and to file lawsuits, hoping to land an activist judge. In addition, they deliberately spread panic in their community by asserting that Prop. 200 will eliminate federally-mandated benefits and preposterous insinuations like immigration will prowl city parks and libraries.

But their hysterical tactics have only exposed the myth that illegal immigrants only contribute and work, and proves that illegals do use welfare. One of the lawyers has lamented that Prop. 200 violates the Constitution and the rights of illegal aliens. Funny how illegal aliens
didn't exactly respect the law when they illegally entered, or signed up for benefits they weren't legally entitled to, or accepted employment, but express outrage only when the law doesn't suit them or is enforced against them.

The illegal alien lobby and the illegal aliens bemoaning the impending loss of their ill-gotten welfare benefits don't get it. Prop. 200 was passed to send the message: If you don't belong here, don't come. And if you come anyway, don't expect those legally here to hand you undeserved aid no questions asked, or facilitate your remaining here.


Kristie Brightman