Arizona Governor Jan Brewer Signs Executive Order Denying Public Funded Benefits to Young Illegal Immigrants

On Wednesday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer ordered her state government agencies to deny drivers licenses and other public benefits to young illegal immigrants who obtain work permits under the new Obama Administration policy.

In the executive order, she was reaffirming the current Arizona law that denies taxpayer-funded public benefits and state identification to illegal immigrants.

Young illegal immigrants around the country between the ages of 16-30 around the nation began applying for work permits on Wednesday under the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

The new federal ‘policy’ defers deportation of certain young illegal immigrants who have a high school diploma, a GED, or who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Services, and all applicants must not have committed certain crimes.

Jan Brewer labeled the new federal policy by Barack Obama as “backdoor amnesty” back in June when the policy was announced.

Arizona has been a leading state in fighting for the right to protect their citizens from illegal immigrants, most recently making the news with the Arizona v. United States Supreme Court decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court in June overturned parts of the Arizona enforcement law known as SB1070 but ruled that a key provision on requiring police to ask people about their immigration status under certain circumstances can be implemented.

The Obama Administration and Eric Holder challenged the law in 2010, claiming that Arizona doesn’t constitutionally have the right to pass the law, since Immigration powers are enumerated to the federal government.

Gov. Brewer went on the Mike Broomhead show on 550 KFYI radio to discuss the executive order, listen here:

Follow me on Twitter: @chrisenloe