Yes, that's also my understanding of the agreement, that the spouse (already here illegally) of a *legal* Mexican worker here in the U.S. is now eligible for pro-rated SS benefits based upon the legal worker's time here.
Spouse here illegally + actual worker here *legally* = Authorized benficiary.
Frankly, I don't see why that concession was made in the totalization treaty. Why reward illegally-immigrated spouses?
5 Legislative Days Left Until The AWB Expires
I'm afraid you still don't get it.
Rereading the paragraph below, it is clear that the non-citizen would be eligible to receive benefits "even on unauthorized work" which is a euphemism for "illegal alien working in the US without authorization".
"For example, a non-citizen retired or disabled worker may receive payments outside the United States (including benefits based on unauthorized work in the United States) if he/she is a citizen of a country that has a social insurance system that pays benefits to eligible U.S. citizens residing outside that country, which Mexico does."
So, not only would the spouse and children of the illegal alien be eligible, but so would the illegal alien himself.
This proposal is a direct assault on the US taxpayer which will force us to fund Mexican national citizens.
Now, I pinged you on another thread (Nine unauthorized workers busted at defense plant) that discussed a raid ICE conducted to arrest "unauthorized workers" at a defense plant and the ICE agent's usage of the term, "unauthorized worker" is unambiguous.
It means "illegal alien working in the US without authorization".
Which is the same thing it means in the Totalization with Mexico proposal.
Not only that, but the illegal alien only has to work for 6 consecutive quarters, then he, his spouse and his children become eligible to receive SSI benefits.
*FOREVER*.
*WHILE LIVING IN MEXICO*!