[dennisw]

I don't consider it an intrusion to demand that all employers verify prospective workers against a database of legitimizer Social Security numbers. This can be easily arranged and set up. As of now employers can make such checks but they are not required by law. Thus the charade of accepting phony IDs and phony Green Cards. Like this car wash owner Garcia is doing.

[dennisw]

legitimate SS numbers....

[Jim Robinson]

I do. I'd like to see the unconstitutional Social Security system dumped. And there's no way I'd every agree to any kind of national ID system.

[Outland]

"...As of now employers can make such checks but they are not required by law. Thus the charade of accepting phony IDs and phony Green Cards. Like this car wash owner Garcia is doing.."

Exactly right. This scenario with carwashes in particular is fairly widespread since the jobs don't pay much and there are plenty to go around. It runs rampant here in the Chicago area as well but most of what I know about deals with a certain chain of carwashes and gas stations in Portland, Oregon. There, the employer couldn't care less if the SS number and other forms of ID are forged or not. They make no effort to check the authenticity of their documents because the government will do that anyway. They go through the motions of filing the paperwork and after a lengthy delay, they are informed that the SS number is bogus or possibly stolen from someone else. The employer is then asked to re-submit correct information. The illegal comes up with a new forged SS card and the cycle is repeated almost indefinitely until the illegal moves on to another employer.

Many of the forged SS cards are obvious poor imitations. The ones that look real are usually stolen. Either way, nothing is said and the employer gets some cheap labor for awhile.

Does this employer ever get into trouble with the law? No. Not once has this employer been approached by the government for routinely hiring illegals.

Do these illegals actually pay any income tax? No. While breaking various laws such as illegal entry into the U.S., possession of forged documents, and presenting a false ID, the illegal is also breaking numerous tax laws. First, they routinely claim a high number of exemptions or claim "tax-exempt" status on their withholding forms. Second, the name and address along with the SS number filed are all bogus. No income tax (state or federal) is ever withheld except for the obligatory SS, Medicare, etc. deductions. Rarely does anyone from the IRS come looking for these illegals who all seem to be "tax exempt".

Without any enforcement action against employers, there is absolutely no incentive for them not to hire illegals, knowingly or otherwise.

[Katya]

Okay, say the system is in place where the businesses are now placed in the role of enforcing law. What happens when they find out they've hired or will hire an illegal? Call the INS? Ha! This is my problem with placing an undue burden on employers, rather than law enforcement. The INS will do NOTHING! There is no coordination between the INS and the IRS. Until the INS is actually interested in REMOVING illegals...why should the sole burden of enforcement be placed on the employers?

[oldbrowser]

I don't consider it an intrusion to demand that all employers verify prospective workers against a database of legitimizer Social Security numbers. This can be easily arranged and set up.

All employers are already required to file a report (weekly/monthly) on all new employees and their SS#. I believe that it is used primarily for child support and taxes due purposes but it could also be used to to find duplicate or fake numbers.