How about let's begin by demanding it become mandatory that only a legal citizen be eligible to apply for benefits on behalf of themselves or for minors in their legal custody? Then we make it mandatory that any applicant for benefits be required to qualify with a minimum twenty consecutive quarter contributions to the SSI trust fund by either themselves or a legal guardian sponsor. Then lastly, we implement a scannable, verifiable SSI card that could help reduce systemwide fraud.
I think that right now each state applies for benefits on behalf of the babies born to illegal aliens. The hospitals and a lot of physicians (like neonatologisits who might have to provide high level care for months) are only too happy to go along so that they get paid. Still, if babies born here to illegal aliens were not instantly citizens "by the soil" then it would fairly quickly reduce the burden hospitals and physicians face because there would be much less incentive to "visit" here illegally and legally here while 40 weeks pregnant. And if enforcement efforts against illegals were stepped up, that would help also. Of course since states are acting to get back their citizen's tax money coerced by the Federal Government in violation of the Constitution (esp 9th and 10th Amendments) they have less incentive than you would think to oppose changes. Getting a Congress full of Dr. Ron Paul's would help that considerably also. Just dreamin', unfortunately...