I'll take Dana Rohrabacher's word for it (CNN Transcript):

My next guest says a government proposal to give Social Security benefits to illegal aliens would cause a financial crisis in this country. The proposal would include not only illegal aliens, but anyone working in violation of their visa, and could cost the United States hundreds of billions of dollars. Now Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has written a bill to derail the proposal, and he joins us to talk more on this issue. Thank you, Congressman Rohrabacher, for joining us.

I hate to paraphrase the measure, but it would basically give Social Security benefits to people who are not legal workers here in the United States, wouldn't it?

REP. DANA ROHRABACHER (R), CALIFORNIA: That's precisely correct. What we've done -- it's even worse actually. What it does is a totalization agreement with Mexico, which says that a Mexican who comes here and works -- let me check my figures here -- only has to work six quarters in order to be eligible for a Social Security benefit while an American citizen at the same time has to work 40 quarters in order to be eligible for Social Security.

Again, we are actually treating our own people worse than we're treating someone who's come here illegally. And I think it's quite apropos. We have this story right after you started talking about endemics that may be coming here from other countries. People who come here illegally also carry diseases. This is a catastrophe. Hopefully, the fact that they're now attacking Social Security should wake the American people up to -- that we got to do something about it. And the elite in this country are taking us down exactly the wrong road.

Dana's got it wrong. SSA says *legal* workers. How many illegal workers are paying in to SS, anyway?!

5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/USandMexico-pr.htm

SOCIAL SECURITY

News Release

United States and Mexico Sign Social Security Agreement

Agreement to Benefit U.S. Workers and Employers

(Printer friendly version)

Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, signed an agreement today with Dr. Santiago Levy Algazi, Director General, Mexican Social Security Institute, that will remove from U.S. citizens working for U.S. companies in Mexico the burden of paying social security taxes to both countries. The agreement also will remove the double taxation requirement for Mexican citizens working for Mexican companies in the United States. “This agreement eliminates a serious and unnecessary impediment to American and Mexican businesses and their employees,” Commissioner Barnhart stated. “Just as important, it promotes equity and fairness for workers who divide their careers between our two countries.”

Currently, U.S. companies that employ U.S. citizens in Mexico are required to contribute to both the U.S. and Mexican social security systems. When the agreement takes effect, U.S. and Mexican employers and their employees will contribute to either the U.S. or Mexican social security systems, but not both. This will result in approximately 3,000 U.S. workers and their employers sharing in tax savings of $140 million over the first five years of the agreement.

The agreement also will improve social security protection for people who work in both countries. At present, some workers who have divided their careers between the United States and Mexico fail to qualify for social security benefits from one or both countries because they do not meet minimum eligibility requirements. Under the agreement it will be possible for workers and their family members to qualify for pro-rated U.S. or Mexican benefits based on combined credits from both countries. This will result in approximately 50,000 U.S. and Mexican workers receiving benefits after the first five years of the agreement.