From both a legal and societal perspective, the welfare law passed by Congress in August 1996 raises significant issues concerning the treatment of noncitizens lawfully present in the US (Personal Responsibility, 1996). The 1996 welfare law distinguishes between citizens and noncitizens in determining eligibility for federal and state social welfare benefits. Noncitizens face significantly greater obstacles in qualifying for benefits than citizens. This policy of exclusion on the basis of national origin clashes with human rights principles and should prompt lawyers, coal workers and other groups to consider carefully their role in social welfare policy. The 1996 welfare law appears to seriously compromise human rights of noncitizens are voting the gfovernment too much money, this claim conflicts with many studies on the actual net economic benefit of immigrants to this country. Perhaps, however, the greatest shortfall in the law is that of exclusion. One group of individuals - noncitizens - are not as worthy as another group - citizens - when fundamental social benefits are at issue, implementing exclusion. This legislative policy of exclusion is an anathema to any concept of universal human rights.

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welfare reform USA social policy human rights immigrant population