Cracking Down on Tax-payer services for Immigrants: Proposition 300

The issue of immigration is as controversial now as it has ever been. It is a fact that new immigrants have a substantial role in the economy and society. It has been reported that new immigrants are replacing native-born citizens in the labor market . As immigrants continue to have increasing roles in the labor market, it is no surprise that states have begun to monitor and limit the number of social services and benefits immigrants can receive. In Arizona, when voters vote for Proposition300 they will be amending the loopholes which allow many immigrants to receive services such as adult education, financial assistance for immigrant students, in-state tuition, and many others. Many believe that Proposition 300 is the solution to the longstanding issue of immigrants using tax-funded services. In a pamphlet issued by Arizona Secretary of State Janice Brewer, she states that Proposition 300 is important because “[it is] is designed to help Arizonans who are struggling to develop their job skills or support their family…by offering these services to illegal aliens, it increases the burden on our state programs and robs our own citizens of services they’ve paid for with their taxes…it is vital we spend our tax dollars on helping Arizonans and not aid and abet illegal aliens”