When my wife and I married in 1983, she was here in America on a student visa. We went to immigration to apply for her permanent residence status and to get her a "green card" (which isn't green). We had to sign paperwork that clearly stated that if we applied for _any_ form of public assistance, she was liable to be deported. Not that we had any intention of applying for food stamps or anything like that but you never know when misfortune can strike. For the next few years, we were walking on a financial tightrope without a net. In the end, I think that was the best thing that ever happened to us. Knowing there was no fallback position meant we had to work hard and exercise financial discipline.

I don't know when the law was changed to allow non-citizens to get welfare assistance or food stamps. It certainly didn't apply in 1983, at least not for us. I can't comprehend the mindset that suggests anyone who can make it inside the borders automatically qualifies for financial assistance.