q       The Farm Bill (P.L. 107-171) that was recently signed into law will restore food stamps to many legal immigrants. The farm bill restores food stamp benefits to:

1.      Qualified immigrants who have been living in the U.S. for five years. This includes lifting the 7-year cap for refugees and asylees who have will have been in qualified immigrant status for more than five years (effective April 1, 2003).

2.      Qualified immigrant children regardless of date of entry (effective October 1, 2003).

3.      Qualified immigrants with disabilities who are receiving a disability benefit for their condition, regardless of date of entry (effective October 1, 2002).

q       The New York City Council unanimously approved a package of legislation that would force employers to provide domestic workers with a written statement of their employment rights and obligations.

q       The Dream Act would allow eligible students to apply for green cards, opening the door to federal grants and other financial aid. The Student Adjustment Act, a bill in the House, would grant legal status to the children of undocumented immigrants who are pursuing a college education in the United States. California, New York, Texas and Utah have passed laws in recent years that allow undocumented students living in the United States to pay resident tuition rates at certain state universities.