The Kansas House has given strong support to a state policy reducing or denying food stamps to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants.

During debate Friday on a new state budget, the House voted 113-7 against forcing Gov. Sam Brownback’s administration to reverse the policy. Almost 2,100 children lost food stamps after the policy took effect in October.

The policy altered how household incomes are calculated to determine eligibility for food stamps.

Previously, Kansas, like most other states, discounted a portion of a family’s income if some members couldn’t prove they were in the U.S. legally.

Backers of the change said the state had been discriminating against families with no illegal immigrants.