Success: Salvation Army Shuns Grinchly Policy, Stops Immigration Checks for Toys

America's Voice Blog

Posted 12/03/09 at 03:16pm

The blogosphere has been abuzz this week with news that the Salvation Army of Houston was forcing families to present Social Security cards to receive free Christmas toys.

BoingBoing.net noted sarcastically:

"Evidently, I missed the part of the New Testament where Jesus instructs his followers to check people's immigration status before rendering charity to them."

Now we've learned that the outcry has forced the organization to reverse its policy and allow all families to participate.

Major Chris Flanagan, head of the Houston Salvation Army, told the Houston Chronicle:

"It was never our intention to offend anyone with our registration requirement to provide a Social Security number, or to give the impression that we were discriminating against those individuals and families who do not have a Social Security number."

But it's clear that public outrage over the discriminatory policy had an effect. Yesterday, a spokesperson told the Associated Press that the policy change had come as a result of protests from pro-immigrant advocates in Los Angeles and elsewhere.

Whatever the reason, we're glad the Salvation Army has reversed the harsh, Grinchly policy and allowed all families in need to share some holiday cheer this season.

What's more, whether you're CNN or the Salvation Army, anti-immigrant discrimination and demagoguing is not acceptable. People are standing up for the fair treatment of immigrants across the country. That's the only Christmas present we need.