Upset at the prospect of losing those food stamps, legal immigrants and their supporters began staging protests. This one was held at the state legislature to pressure politicians into saving welfare benefits. Immigrants found a strong ally in newly elected Governor Gary Locke, the son of Chinese immigrants. This is a historic day. Upon taking office the governor supported legislation to provide state-funded food stamps for legal immigrants.
State provides own money for immigrant food stamps.
Lyle Quasim heads the state s department of social and human services. We felt that the federal program was discriminatory inappropriately to legal immigrants. These individuals have come to this country legally, played by the rules, followed the same terms and conditions of any other resident. And from time to time those individuals will fall upon hard times, where they ll need food assistance, and to deny them would be inappropriate. Washington State is much more, I think, attuned to the benefits that immigrants present to the economy than many states because it is a very trade-dependent state.