Posted on 03/25/2005 8:46:21 AM PST by txdoda
Editor's Note: While President Bush talks about immigration reform, but makes no promises, those here legally face hard choices when their less-fortunate compatriots ask for help.
SAN JOSE, Calif.--I was glad to hear that President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox met yesterday to discuss immigration, and that Bush is pushing for a guest worker program and amnesty for illegal immigrants. But immigration reform has been stalled for years in Washington, and no one was making any promises that things would actually change.
In the meantime, some of us who are in this country legally, but have immigrant roots, are finding the issue landing right in our own laps.
A few years ago someone asked me if his friend could use my social security number to work. I was mad. How could he ask me about such a sensitive subject over the phone! On the other hand, how could I say no?
"Well, I don't know anything if you do use it," I said, and hung up.
I hadn't thought of it since, until a few weeks ago when this same friend dropped off some tax returns to me. They had my name and social security number on them, and he thought maybe I could get the tax refund.
I carelessly left the documents on the kitchen table for my dad to find. He looked them over and said, "You never worked at this store. Who is this?"
"My other me," I said, trying to act like I had no clue.
"Well, you better fix this right away. It can mess you up."
I still haven't filed my own tax return, but I don't plan on using the "other me's" returns, even if later I have some complication for not filing. At the same time, I don't think it is such a bad thing that I let a stranger use my identity.
Why not give up my number to someone who is just searching for work in a country that needs her here but isn't willing to admit it? Half of my family are recent immigrants, and some didn't take official measures to get here, but they have made their lives here, raised families here, and have to live with the constant worry that they are going to be found out and deported. Those of us who do have our legal situation in place wish we could do more for those who have been here for years and have no legal status.
A new report says that there are now 10.3 million undocumented workers in the United States, more than half of them from Mexico. I have never believed that immigrants take U.S. citizens' jobs. They take the jobs that "Americans" think they are overqualified and underpaid for. Undocumented workers have an urgency about work. They don't have the luxury of waiting around until someone offers them more than $12 an hour.
At my job, I work with people who are obviously using someone else's identity -- the business constantly gets notices about certain people's social security numbers needing to be checked. A lot of those people move on quickly, but others have remained, and I know they don't have other options besides working long hours and clocking as much overtime as they can.
One of my co-workers is 19 and works more than full time. I know he would love to do more than work a service job, but getting an education is a challenge because of his immigration status.
People like my co-worker and my "other me" have such a messed-up deal that I don't know how much it helps to lend them a social. Having no documentation means working hard and paying taxes that they will never see come back to them as benefits. And it only helps for a job; it's not like a free pass in the country.
My alter ego will still have to live outside the system, using someone else's numerical identity so that her own identity isn't revealed. If it were discovered that she'd committed the crime of working hard at a low-wage job, there would be no hesitation about deporting her, regardless of all she has done and contributed.
The United States should focus less on trying to catch people like her, who are just trying to make a living, and be more concerned about restoring the dignity to work, by creating jobs with living wages that allow people to do more than just survive.
PNS contributor Elizabeth Rodriguez, 24, is a writer for www.siliconvalleydebug.org, the voice of young workers, writers and artists in Silicon Valley and a PNS project. Her name has been changed for her protection.
Gee-I-wonder-how-this-problem-perpetuates bump
Last year someone who had used my SSN died. Since then my military retirement, my military disability, my health insurance and homeowners insurance were all cancelled because of my "death". It's still not straightened out after almost nine months. Fortunately it doesn't appear that the person ever applied for any credit cards or loans. I had no idea that they were using my SSN until the problems started popping up.
The guy swore and got upset. He bought a SS# from someone and is now paying that person's child support. He has to work two days a week extra just to break even.
The author is too young and naive today but someday this will come back to haunt her.
I hope.
I also had someone use my number. She didn't apply for credit and thank God she didn't die and screw me even more. She used my driving record and I ended up having my drivers license suspended twice for things I knew nothing about.She was arrested on numerous felony warrants, including stealing my identity but those charges were dropped in a plea bargain.
This whole extended family sounds like a criminal enterprise. Round them up, ship the illegals back, strip the legals of their green card or citizenship for conspiracy against The United States and ship them back as well.
Ya know, I believe CA has raised their min. wage to over 7 bucks an hr....
by creating jobs with living wages that allow people to do more than just survive. "
Wonder how many billions in remittances leave CA every year ?? Yet here we have a legal whining for jobs that pay 'livable wages' for the illegals.
Maybe if enough criminal legals start *lending* out their SS#'s, they'll help put the phony document criminals out of business.
Yikes, what a mess.....too bad gov't didn't make it *mandatory* for employers to verify SS#'s. It would sure stop alot of this ever rising 'identity theft' crime.
I guess when they catch up with this *legal, lending out her SS#, she can just *claim* identity theft. That way she can avoid deportation & prosecution.
I hope.
She *claims * to be 24, but if she's an example of our future citizens, we're in alot of trouble.
That's what I thought too.....& don't forget the 'friends' who *borrow SS#'s, for other 'friends'.
ping
Here's one you can laugh & cry about.
Here's one you can laugh & cry about.
How right you are. You know, I don't think we've really touched on this aspect of illegal immigration before. I know, there have been discussions about SS#s and rarely about what happens when the duplications are discovered, but...
Identity Theft is touted today as one the most prevalent and financially destructive crimes going. What percent of this crime can be traced back to illegal immigration?
More of the unintended consequences our President doesn't seem to understand.
IDENTITY THEFT: Blank licenses stolen from DMV
DMV Burglarized in North Las Vegas
Thieves Smash Into Nevada DMV Office, Take Blank Licenses
They do. All they are required to do is verify that the name matches the number. They can choose to go further but they must have some evidence of fraud. They can't question it without some substantial evidence. If they do they are open to a discrimination suit. All this according to our HR guy.
They do. All they are required to do is verify that the name matches the number.>>>>>
Has it been changed ??? Last I heard this was still a "voluntary" program for employers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1037329/posts
(snip)
President Bush signs workplace verification bill to prevent hiring of illegal Aliens
S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Extension Act of 2003, was signed by President Bush on December 3, 2003.
It will extend for five years the workplace employment eligibility authorization pilot programs created in 1996. It will also expand the pilot programs from the original five states to all 50 states. Thus, all employers in the United States will have the option of participating, although the program would remain voluntary.
This program is an important component of preventing illegal aliens from taking jobs from those who have the legal right to work in this country.
How it works: By December of 2004, every business in America will have a nearly sure-fire way to verify if a new employee is an illegal alien or has the right to work in America.
Most importantly, no business in America will have an excuse for hiring illegals.
Right now , the job of trying to figure out if the ID shown by a new employee is a counterfeit or not is just daunting. That is sometimes a legitimate excuse and sometimes a smokescreen for why so many businesses have illegal aliens working for them. But with the new system, businesses merely use existing documents (social security cards and alien identification cards) and existing databases (SSA and BCIS databases) to verify employment eligibility. An employer using the system simply calls an 800 number, provides the name and the Social Security number or the alien ID number, as presented by the new hire, and then he receives either a confirmation indicating that the worker is authorized to work in the US or a tentative non-confirmation if the number and name provided do not match SSA or BCIS data. In the case of a tentative non-confirmation, the new hire has the right to contact SSA or BCIS and try to fix the problem BEFORE the employer may fire the new hire.
But the program is voluntary. The rotten, exploitative, unpatriotic businesses will still tend to keep hire illegal aliens or just not participate in the verification system.
Yes. The place would simlpy fall apart without her.
The corollary to the 'jobs American's won't do' myth.
See the link in # 18 re: the 'Workplace Verification Bill'.
This was passed as a voluntary program for employers to use, & I believe it still is.
Had our *lawmakers* made this *mandatory it would be very easy to catch & FINE many illegal employers....& also curb much Identity Theft.
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