New rights for illegal immigrants Arizona vetoes

New rights for illegal immigrants Arizona vetoes Arizona Republican Governor Jan Brewer yesterday ordered a ban on temporary immigration...

Arizona is the center of the U.S. immigration controversy. Brewer issued an executive order denying state or local benefits to immigrants seeking deferral of deportation.

The Pew Hispanic Center pointed out that as many as 1.7 million people are eligible for the federal government's new temporary program. Qualified illegal immigrants can apply for work permits, Social Security cards and driver's licenses.

The Obama administration is allowing immigrants who arrived in the United States as children to apply for a deferment of deportation, and some eligible young illegal immigrants will not be deported for at least 2 years. Officials estimate that 80,000 illegal immigrants in Arizona are eligible.

> Brewer noted in the order that the new plan "will not confer upon them any legal status or recognized status, nor will it confer upon them any additional public benefits."

Brewer said he has reaffirmed the content of existing Arizona law to prevent "significant and lasting impacts on Arizona's budget, health care system and additional public benefits funded by Arizona taxpayers."