Packard Vows to Bar Illegal Immigrants From Flood Aid : Legislation: His proposal that applicants must prove citizenship is expected to win widespread support in Republican-led Congress.

Rep. Ron Packard (R-Oceanside) said Friday that he will fight to keep illegal immigrants from receiving any federal benefits offered to California flood victims.

His proposal, similar to one that sparked controversy after last year’s Northridge earthquake, is expected to breeze through the new Republican-led Congress.

Illegal immigrants are already forbidden by law to receive any federal aid except emergency medical care and education. But the policy is not enforced, Packard said, and as a result, undocumented residents are taking millions of dollars that should go to U.S. citizens. “I plan to ensure that no flood disaster relief funds go to illegal immigrants except in cases of medical emergency,” Packard said in a statement.

Over the objections of some Democrats who called it immigrant-bashing, Packard offered a similar provision as an amendment to last year’s earthquake relief bill when it came before the House Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member.

As a compromise, Packard softened the wording of the amendment to say that only persons known to be in this country illegally would be turned away.

With Republicans now in control of Congress, Packard said, he hopes to persuade his colleagues to include the provision in the original language of any bill that assists flood victims. The appropriators will begin considering a flood assistance bill next week.

Some Latino lawmakers have already vowed to put up a fight. Rep. Jose Serrano (D-N.Y.), former chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said that few illegal immigrants receive benefits anyway and that targeting them is “mean, right-wing, reactionary, extreme and bordering on racism.”

But observers said Packard’s proposal is likely to win widespread support.

“Most of the American public is united in the belief that people shouldn’t be receiving benefits if they’re illegal,” said Stephen Moore, a senior economist at the conservative Cato Institute in Washington. “It’s becoming less and less controversial.”

The restriction in the earthquake package applied to aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Small Business Administration. Illegal immigrants were still eligible for short-term medical care.

People seeking aid during the first 90 days after the quake were not asked their citizenship status, said FEMA spokesman Phil Cogan.

Packard’s proposal would require all flood relief applicants to prove their status, said an aide to the congressman.