California Illegal Aliens May Get to Push #1 for a Phone Subsidy
For years mass immigration advocates have rejected any meaningful distinction in status between illegal aliens and legal immigrants. As such, many states have felt justified — if not pressured — to extend health care, grant driver’s licenses, guarantee housing, and offer in-state tuition. At the same time, local jurisdictions have put in place sanctuary policies that shield illegal aliens from law enforcement, and extend voting rights. All come at a cost, and/or displace Americans. All incentivize more illegal immigration.
Lesser known, yet no less consequential, are an array of other state and local benefits being offered that constitute a death of a thousand cuts to the rule of law and fundamental fairness for citizens and taxpayers. One such example is California’s latest effort to offer phone service subsidies to illegal aliens.
The California LifeLine Program is an existing state program that provides discounted home phone and cell services to eligible, low-income households. In addition to providing proof of household income, applicants must furnish a date of birth, and the last four digits of their Social Security numbers. Now, however, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is considering eliminating the Social Security number requirement, thereby enabling illegal aliens to qualify. While the subsidized discount is nominal — $19 off monthly service, and $39 off an initial service connection — the math adds up dramatically considering that California has 3.5 million illegal aliens.
Illustrating how mass immigration advocates have systematically blurred the distinction between legal and illegal, CPUC President Alice Reynold — a Governor Gavin Newsom appointee — defended the program by saying, “If an undocumented Californian falls on hard times, they should benefit from this program, just like every other Californian.” By extension, this would justify extending every benefit that legally residing California residents have paid for, earned, and are entitled to, to every unlawfully present California resident…which is mostly what the state has been doing for years.
Fortunately, there is some pushback by California’s GOP. State Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones objected, “Once again, California is sending a message to the rest of the world that they should come here illegally and receive their free gift. This time, it’s discounted phones.” Moreover, it’s also not clear that even Gov. Newsom is on board with the proposal. Perhaps mindful of the hazards of supporting controversial bills just before an election, he recently vetoed legislation that would have assisted illegal aliens buying homes.
Best-selling author, James Clear, once observed, “Small changes often appear to make no difference until you cross a critical threshold.” Indeed California, and the nation at large, have crossed it now. The “little stuff” — each incremental benefit — has compounded, and it’s why America now has 16.8 million illegal aliens costing taxpayers of $163 billion annually with no end in sight to future flows.
The CPUC will vote on the proposal September 26. If they decide to scrap the Social Security number requirement, illegal aliens in California will get yet another welcoming message — this time a clear phone signal — that being here is okay.