Grant Application Guidelines Questioned
The city may revise its guidelines about what types of information people must provide to receive federal grants and no-interest loans, responding to concerns from residents that such funds may be benefiting illegal immigrants.
Local activists questioned the city’s procedures for distributing the federal benefits and requested that recipients be required to show proof of citizenship.
Their request was prompted by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Its purpose, according to City Atty. Richard D. Jones, is to prevent unqualified people from receiving federal benefits, including welfare, food stamps and loans.
City officials said no unqualified people have received public benefits administered locally. City officials also said they already check identification, Social Security numbers and tax returns.
Debate over whether more stringent guidelines are needed will continue in the next two to four weeks.
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