Loophole in Welfare Plan Favors Illegal Immigrants

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Pete Wilson’s welfare initiative contains a peculiar twist: It apparently penalizes American citizens who have more children while on welfare but allows illegal immigrants to have additional welfare children without penalty.

The inconsistency arises because under federal law illegal immigrants cannot receive welfare but any children born on American soil are citizens and entitled to public assistance. Illegal immigrants are not on welfare, so their children are not covered by the provision in Wilson’s initiative.

Even if illegal immigrants already have one or more children on welfare, they would be permitted to receive an increase in benefits for additional children born in the United States.

According the state Department of Social Services, about 10% of California’s welfare rolls consist of children who are American citizens even though their parents are illegal immigrants.

Amy Albright, a spokeswoman for the campaign to pass the initiative, said Wilson was very concerned about issues surrounding illegal immigrants but did not believe his initiative was the appropriate place to address them.

She said Proposition 165 attempts to discourage welfare recipients from having additional children but “it’s not the panacea for all of the problematic issues in welfare.”