Mover Mike

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner yesterday signed into law a measure that denies illegal aliens public benefits, including access to Medicaid, welfare and local health care services.

"Illegals of any age still will be eligible for emergency aid, such as immunizations and pregnancy tests."

Some, however want local governments want to be exempt from the legislation.

"...the measure could prevent them from allowing illegals into homeless shelters or free health clinics."

Others, worry that illegals will

"avoid seeking preventive health care, which could cause the spread of disease."

There is no easy solution to this problem, that gets worse each year with the arrival of another 1,000,000 illegals!

I posted here that Virginia passed a law that bars illegal aliens from receiving public benefits. It's ironic that the law will be administered by J. Walter Tejada, chairman of the Virginia Latino Advisory Commission, The Washington Times reports. A post created by appointment of the Governor Mark Warner (D). Tejada came from El Salvador when he was 13. It's is refreshing to have him say yesterday,

he opposes the law but will not fight it. "As of when the governor signed it, whatever views we had were moot."

Under the law, government officials will require an applicant to provide the same immigration documents now needed to obtain a Virginia driver's license. The law applies only to aliens 19 and older. Illegals of any age still will be eligible for emergency aid, such as immunizations and pregnancy tests

The Commission has two problems with the law:

1. the law is redundant because federal law already prohibits illegals from receiving such benefits.

2. fear that only immigrants will be asked to verify their legal status.

"People that are legally here should not have to be proving that they are legally here," he (Andres Tobar, a panel member) said. "Anybody with an accent is going to be suspected that they are illegal. They may be denied services that they rightfully should be receiving."

Cecelia M. Espenoza, a panel member, said the new law puts an "undue burden" on all residents who will be required to show more documents when applying for benefits.

That's really why some oppose immigration laws, it seems to me. Some must believe it is a kind of racial profiling, similar to black drivers singled out for stops by the police in white neighborhoods. They must think we have the freedom to move around this country unemcumbered by legal documents. But, we carry our drivers license or some picture-identification. If we drive we have vehicle registration and proof of insurance. If we get sick in a city away from home, we will be asked for some proof of health insurance. And don't forget a social security number a must have for a job, buying a home, and getting credit. If we go to a foreign country we carry a passport. I hope that those countries do a better job of tracking visitors than we do.