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The Housing and Essential Needs Referral Program (HEN) was designed to provide housing and other items, including bus passes, to specific categories of low-income Washingtonians who are otherwise unable to work: U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or victims of human trafficking. The intent is to keep the vulnerable from falling into homelessness. But Democrats opened the door for illegal immigrants to receive the cash assistance.

“Same budget. More recipients. That means our people get kicked out of line in favor of illegal immigrants,” State Rep. Travis Couture (R-Allyn) .

Democrats HEN, removing the eligibility requirement that recipients be “citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise residing in the United States under color of law.” And they removed the need to furnish a Social Security number. While recipients are supposed to also receive social security benefits, this to “the discretion of the (Commerce) department.”

They did so despite trying to make up for a $16 billion budget deficit Washington Democrats created, in part, by expanding programs to illegal immigrants and those who otherwise would not be eligible.

This bill purposefully takes funds away from vulnerable citizens to give to illegal immigrants

Washington Democrats did not hide the fact that the intent is to take funds from vulnerable Washington citizens in order to help illegal immigrants.

HEN did not see a budget increase ²¹²Ô»åÌýit had no fiscal note. That means the bill to implement because the budget didn’t change. Last year, nonpartisan legislative staff said HEN didn’t underspend last year; that they spent all or nearly all of the budget.

At the same time, the state’s Commerce Department that the current budget didn’t come close to covering everyone who would be eligible under the previous rules. But they added illegal immigrants anyway as part of a larger Democratic effort to offer benefits to those in this country illegally. Making the program even more precarious, Democrats also extended eligibility checks for recipients from three months to 12 months, allowing people who no longer need the subsidy to continue to get cash assistance.

Will Governor Bob Ferguson sign this bill?

Couture and other Republicans are asking Governor Bob Ferguson to veto the bill.

“It’s unfair and it’s wrong. Put our own people first!” Couture said.

Unfortunately, this will be another losing battle for Republicans and Washington citizens. Democrats spent the limited legislative session fighting for illegal immigrants, making no distinction between illegal immigrants who are trying to make a better life for themselves in Washington and illegal immigrants who are committing crimes. Indeed, you could be hit with an order of removal and still collect cash assistance for housing at the expense of Washington citizens who play by the rules.

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