Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) joined Members of Congress and elderly and disabled legal immigrants in a countdown to tragedy today. In 100 days, on August 1st, these legal immigrants will start to be cut-off from their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as mandated by the welfare reform law. "These are people who have worked, served our country and played by the rules," said Pelosi. "They have made good faith efforts to contribute to our country, and they do not deserve to be thrown out on the street."
In California alone, more than 200,000 aged and sick legal residents will lose their only source of support. "This harmful provision has caused a panic that proponents never considered when it was passed. Just this week, Ignacio Munoz, an elderly California legal resident received his letter of notification and killed himself. Tragically, he would have qualified for benefits, but felt he had nowhere to turn."
Almost one million SSI recipients have been notified that their benefits will be cut off in August or September if they have not attained United States citizenship by that date. Several pieces of legislation have been introduced in Congress to restore these benefits. "We need to restore benefits immediately to these vulnerable residents who are in immediate danger," said Pelosi.
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