Federal Funds for Immigrants

Your article (April 1) describing reactions of the California congressional delegation to Gov. Pete Wilson’s overly optimistic requests for federal support to cover costs related to immigrants residing in the state leads us to comment on the best use of such funds.

The State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant (SLIAG) program was created by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 especially to cover the costs of health, certain forms of public assistance and adult education programs for the immigrants in the amnesty program, 1.8 million of whom live in California. This is a source of funding which Wilson is presently pursuing.

Under the 1986 law amnesty participants are eligible for SLIAG benefits beginning with their time of application for temporary residence (1987-1988) and continuing for five years. As of November of this year, no amnesty participant will be eligible to receive program services. Meanwhile, the 1986 legislation provided that unobligated funds ($812 million) be made available through Sept. 30, 1994.

This situation--of money available for the state’s immigrant community, but no one eligible to use it--is not the fault of the amnesty participants, but rather of Congress, which in 1992 appropriated no funds for the program.

The simplest and fairest remedy is an extension of eligibility for the program to coincide with the period of availability of the funds--the end of the 1994 federal fiscal year. That will provide support for state and local agencies and at the same time will enable amnesty participants to continue to study English and United States history and government. Amnesty immigrants will be eligible to become United States citizens beginning this fall.

Lobbyists for some California state and county agencies are blocking any extension of eligibility for the program, so that all the funds will go to pay their bills from past fiscal years.

We seek a full appropriation of $812 million ($487 million for California) and an extension of eligibility for SLIAG services. Current SLIAG legislation calls for a minimum of 10% of each year’s funds to go to adult education. Our proposal will thus provide for 5.4 hours (at $5 per class hour) of English and civics instruction for each amnesty participant in California. In our view that is not a lot to ask.

MARGO DE LEY, President

National Board of Directors

Hermandad Mexicana Nacional

Legal Center

Chicago