Starting today, Coloradans will have to show proof of citizenship to receive public assistance – a step that may be easier said than done.
Gov. Bill Owens on Monday signed a slate of bills passed during last month’s special session on illegal immigration. The cornerstone measure, House Bill 1023, requires state residents to show proof of citizenship before receiving public benefits.
It’s considered one of the toughest immigration laws in the country, and we’re glad Owens and the Democrat-controlled legislature were able to work together to pass it – something Congress has been unable to do. But its passage underscores, again, why this is an issue that Congress must address on a national level.
Federal law, Owens said at his news conference, does not allow states to require specific forms of identification to receive food stamps or Medicaid, so they won’t be covered under HB 1023.
Federal law says that “any document which reasonably establishes the applicant’s identity must be accepted” for food stamps. For Medicaid, proof of citizenship is required.
“States should have the right to require specific forms of identification for such programs,” Owens said. “I urge Congress to provide that flexibility and hope that our congressional delegation will take the lead in proposing these changes.” To the contrary, it would be more sensible if the U.S. had one policy for federal programs that was applied in all 50 states.
State lawmakers approved just four forms of ID acceptable to receive services: a Colorado driver’s license or identification card, a tribal document or military ID card. Fearing that some legal residents may be denied services because they can’t immediately produce any one of those IDs, state officials scrambled to expand the list of documents people can show to prove their citizenship, including certificates of birth, adoption or naturalization. If they can’t produce one of those, they can attempt to show lawful presence through a waiver process. The expanded list and waiver program expires next March, unless lawmakers choose to update the law to include the additional records.
It’s a lot of hoop-jumping that could be eliminated if Congress acted with the same fervor as our state legislature. Why should 50 different states have 50 different sets of criteria for who’s eligible to receive federal aid?
Congress has put off action on immigration reform until at least next year. Until then, we’re at least pleased Colorado officials are taking prudent steps to ensure that implementation of our new laws does not inconvenience legal residents.
