From the Back Forty: Freebies for Immigrants and Rotini on the Rails

Heartlanders shared inspiring stories about their ancestors who immigrated to the United States just as the Trump administration unveiled bad news for immigrants living on the public dime. And even Olive Garden requires legal ID these days.

Currency Is No Longer Free for Immigrants

The Trump administration recently rescinded the Biden-era blanket band-aid for migrants on the public dole. Under President Donald Trump’s interpretation of the rules, immigrants won’t be able to get a green card if they’re on welfare – and you’d be hard pressed to find many heartlanders who disagree.

A press release was issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which states: “Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), an individual applying for a visa, admission, or adjustment of status is inadmissible to the United States if deemed likely at any time to become a public charge.”

The federal government “is reaffirming the requirement of self-reliance, protecting public resources and ending policies that encouraged dependency on the backs of hard-working American taxpayers,” USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow told CBS News. “Under President Trump, USCIS is restoring the basic principle that immigrants must be able to support themselves.”

The Holbens of Summerville, SC, commented: “My grandparents came here thru Ellis Island in 1921. They had to have a sponsor, a place to live and a job lined up for entry. When we looked at other countries to move to, they all require you have a certain amount of income $ and proof of personal health insurance. No government handouts.”

And in Chicago, Dulce Monjes Ward also had an immigration tale to tell: “We arrived in the USA on the AGREED terms that we would have a means to support ourselves, including from our sponsors. My father made sure we strived to comply.”

There are plenty of folks From the Back Forty with inspiring stories just like that. Maybe that’s where we should look when it’s time to make policy.

Ballots, Sure – Pasta, Not So Fast?

It was July 16 when the world tilted on its axis over a benign X post: “The Never-Ending Pasta Pass is only for use by the Passholder whose name is printed on the Pass. Passes are personalized and non-transferable. Passholders must present a valid photo I.D. along with the Pass at the time of ordering.”

Go ahead, say it with me: Substitute “Pasta Pass” with “Cast a Vote.” Olive Garden posted the very traumatic news, and now women and minorities will surely be denied a plate of noodles.

Let the sticky strings of pasta remarks begin with political organizer Scott Pressler: “Olive Garden implemented the SAVE America Act more quickly than the US Senate.”

Texas Patriot says, quite rightly, “This is racist. Democrats are going to claim that blacks won’t be able to use a pasta pass at OG. MAHA.”

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Editor’s Note: From the Back Forty is Liberty Nation’s longest running and most popular weekly column.