Toy drive organizers in Houston checking kids for immigration status before giving them toys

[Ken Burch]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6746254.html

(snip)

"They don't claim to know who's been naughty or nice, but some Houston charities are asking whether children are in the country legally before giving them toys.

In a year when more families than ever have asked for help, several programs providing Christmas gifts for needy children require at least one member of the household to be a U.S. citizen. Others ask for proof of income or rely on churches and schools to suggest recipients.

The Salvation Army and a charity affiliated with the Houston Fire Department are among those that consider immigration status, asking for birth certificates or Social Security cards for the children."
(end snip)
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_fSFlHDFLDak/SeAEP0nT-rI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/U1MHRNAnrS0/s400/weeping+christ.jpg

[Captain Hilts]

1. That's mean and petty. nt

[Chulanowa]

2. God, that's disgusting

Even Jesus is facepalming this shit.

[CrispyQ]

3. This is about the most mean-spirited thing I've ever heard of!

Shame!

[redqueen]

4. Nice... way to pervert the spirit of Christmas and Christ's message.

I hope they catch hell for this.

[Ken Burch]

5. Good thing the Houston Salvation Army didn't own the MANGER

n/t.

[KansDem]

6. This is pretty low...

I mean, I really don't care for the holidays, but as an atheist I'm "Christian" enough to know you don't give a toy to one child but not another...and I don't care what the reason is!


Ho, ho, ho and Merry Christmas, kids!...got any proof of citizenship?

[treestar]

7. That's taking it a bit far

We've always had compassion for the children, in this country, if their parents brought them illegally.

[TexasObserver]

8. This morning I heard a TV report saying that was inaccurate.

I can't vouch for the story one way or another, however.

I'll probably watch some of the Houston news later today and see what the consensus is.

[Ken Burch]

9. I'd be relieved to hear that

Post if you discover that to be the case.

Is the Chronicle generally considered to be a fairly reliable paper?

[TexasObserver]

13. The Chronicle is a right leaning paper, generally mainstream to right.

I can't really say it's reliable as a news source. They're pretty sloppy in some things, and they have some journalists and those managing them who use their stories to sell their biases.

I would trust the various TV stations more, simply because there is a competition among them, while the Comical really has no competition.

When the Houston Post was still in existence, it was traditionally left leaning, being controlled by Bill Hobby's family. But then it was sold to some folks who turned it into a right leaning paper. The new Post fired a writer who was openly gay, Juan Polamo, I think his name was, but it's been nearly 20 years. He had made some public statement related to gay issues, and there was some outrage by predictable forces.

[Ken Burch]

14. Thanks for the background on the paper

In some ways, knowing that the paper is right-leaning actually ADDS credicility to the story, since their natural bias and much of their target readership would be anti-immigration and anti-Mexican.

[TexasObserver]

17. Here's a couple of stories on the topic.

I found this, both stories dated Dec 1st. The gist is they require at least one Social Security number per family, and say they do so to guard against fraud.

Could be a backdoor way to limit it to citizens.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.kiiitv.com/news/txstatenews/78275032.html

Richard Longoria
Story Created: Dec 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM CST
Story Updated: Dec 1, 2009 at 6:44 PM CST

HOUSTON (AP) - The Salvation Army is defending its practice of
requiring at least one Social Security number for each family
registering their children to receive Christmas gifts.

Some had seen the practice as a way to check immigration status,
but the charity says it's a way to avoid fraud.

Salvation Army Houston spokesman Juan Alines says the
organization's work "is not to verify immigration status."

The controversy arose after the Houston Chronicle reported that
the Salvation Army and another charity, Outreach Program Inc., were
requiring Social Security numbers or documents that indicate
immigration status.


--------------------------------------------------------------

And this …
------------------------------------------------------
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/6747215.html
Charities say they don't intend to discriminate
By JEANNIE KEVER Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 1, 2009, 8:40PM

Two Houston charities that require proof of citizenship or legal residency before registering families for holiday toy drives said Tuesday their intentions have been misunderstood.

Executive Assistant Fire Chief Rick Flanagan said people won't be turned away from a Dec. 23 giveaway even if they can't provide proof of their immigration status.

“They ask,” Flanagan said of the Outreach Program Inc., which distributes toys collected by the Houston Fire Department. “If (people) don't have identification, they still get in. I wouldn't have the program if they didn't.”

And the Salvation Army, which asks for a Social Security number when registering children for its gift program, said it does so only to deter fraud.

[depakid]

18. Avoiding fraud?

:shrug:

They're giving toys way to kids for crissakes.

Yet another reason why I won't donate to the Salvation Army.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

10. As if it's the children's fault they're here illegally?

The New Colossus has officially become The Old Diminutive.

[Javaman]

11. "only merkin's allowed to have mirth and merriment! damn it!"

sigh.

I no longer weep for our future, the present gives me plenty to cry about.

[newfie11]

12. What bullshit!!!!!!!!!

These are kids!! Who the hell cares if they are here legal or not. For Pete's sake it is Christmas gifts!

[emsimon33]

15. Only in Texas (or Florida, or Arizona or...)

God bless the Christian spirit of charity!

[Ken Burch]

16. Or any OTHER state on a bad day.

Shit like this happens everywhere.