Nooo... You don't say. I'm shocked that you think that way.
Shocked, I tell you!
Posted on 12/08/2005 10:31:44 PM PST by Stellar Dendrite
An immigration reform bill moving quickly through the U.S. House of Representatives contains language requiring the Social Security Administration, Treasury Department and Department of Justice to study the concept of a machine-readable Social Security card with a photo ID.
The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation (H.R. 4437), sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R.-Wis.), on a party-line 23-15 vote Thursday. Next week the House is set to vote on the bill, which calls for mandatory verification of employees’ legal status and increases enforcement along the Mexican border.
But language about the machine-readable Social Security cards has alarmed civil libertarians who fear it could lead to a national ID card for all Americans.
Language in the bill requires the Social Security Administration, Treasury Department and Department of Justice to submit a report to Congress nine months after the bill’s enactment that explores the idea of “Social Security cards that are made of a durable plastic or similar material and that include an encrypted, machine-readable electronic identification strip and a digital photograph of the individual to whom the card is issued.”
The cards would be issued to both U.S. citizens and non-citizens who are employed or seeking employment and applicants for new Social Security cards or new Social Security numbers. The report requires an examination of the feasibility for employers to use the machine-readable cards to identify an employee’s eligibility for hire based on a “unified database” maintained by the Department of Homeland Security.
Civil libertarians attacked the bill Thursday.
“This shameful incongruity in national ID language is a textbook example of Orwellian doublethink,” said Liberty Coalition National Director Michael Ostrolenk. “A real border security law would secure the borders, making this kind of police-state Big Brother tracking of Americans unnecessary. I strongly urge Congress to remove this section.”
While the Liberty Coalition expressed concern about the government’s studying the concept of a machine-readable Social Security card, it also criticized language that would require employers to start verifying job applicants’ legal status -- a provision that has the support of conservative Republicans seeking to crack down on employment of illegal aliens.
The illegal alien verification system, to be maintained by the Department of Homeland Security, would offer employers a toll-free telephone number to check an employee’s status as a U.S. citizen. Within three days, employers would have an answer from the government.
“Even setting aside concerns of intentional ‘blacklisting’ of innocent Americans, even a small error rate could mean millions of Americans forced out of work by computer mistakes,” said Liberty Coalition Policy Director James Plummer. “Homeland Security has a poor record of putting innocent Americans on secretive “no-fly” lists, and should not be entrusted with determining who is allowed is to make a living in this country.”
ping
Good idea...not a week goes buy without a bust on counterfeiting SS cards operations. Illegals know not to leave home without both a fake SS and green card.
anybody surprised?? The GOP statists never surprise me, I don't have high hopes for them anyway
This jerk is clueless.
Has he ever filed a Federal Income Tax Reurn? Has he ever received a State Driver's license?
Has he ever served in the United States Military? Has he ever obtained a United State Passport? Has he ever gotten a marriage license?...
The list is endless.
Could this increase the rate of identity theft? If an illegal alien wanted a job that required verification of legal status (citizen, resident alien, or nonresident alien), couldn't he just assume a false identity (real name and SSN, fake picture ID and fake SS card with real info)? Suddenly, stealing citizens' wallets would become more lucrative.
Under the current system, employers can verify SSN's, but many employers of illegal aliens don't bother and there is no enforcement. It seems the priorities should be to enforce existing immigration laws and to reinforce border fences before enacting new laws.
Recently, the police department of Costa Mesa, CA, (near the border between Orange Co. and Los Angeles Co.) decided to verify the immigration status of people detained for crimes and to call the USCIS if the criminal has a long crime record to help remove the worst of the illegal aliens. Illegal aliens stopped for petty offenses like jaywalking (with no criminal record) would not be reported to the USCIS, probably because the police know that the USCIS wouldn't bother to pick up such illegal aliens for a lack of resources. This action is considered "controversial" because the illegal alien lobby opposes having any cooperation between the police and the border patrol.
Cooperation between local police and the USCIS to deport the worst of the illegal aliens would be a much more useful change than a national ID card.
Nooo... You don't say. I'm shocked that you think that way.
Shocked, I tell you!
"Recently, the police department of Costa Mesa, CA, (near the border between Orange Co. and Los Angeles Co.) decided to verify the immigration status of people detained for crimes and to call the USCIS if the criminal has a long crime record to help remove the worst of the illegal aliens."
Night before last, the Costa Mesa City Council became the first city to vote (3-2) for police to determine immigration status, and turn illegals over to Federal authorities. (First city to do so).
Costa Mesa also shut down their day laborer employment center, after 17 years.
Likewise the Orange County Sheriff is moving towards similar practices.
All part of the trend of local government doing what the Feds are responsible for doing, but are NOT doing.
Congress doodles along. Bush doodles along.
What little is being done at the national level is NOT because of California, Texas. It is because of Iowa and Georgia and other places, are now getting their (small doses) of what their politicos would NOT help California with in the past.
Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here
I am shocked that you are shocked
BTTT
The employers I talked to all wished the US had photo SS cards. Just the document presence alone will greatly slow illegal immigration. Think about it.
The photo SS cards are a key to curbing illegal immigration. If you want to address the problem seriously, the SS card is the first step.
Photo Social Security Cards?? We can't even get photo ID's to be shown before voting.
A national database with a swipe card is essential. The effect will be huge.
Our social security cards are the same as those in the 40's and before, they are from a bygone era.
I agree with you. I've had a national ID for almost 40 years...it's called a passport.
This is a case of the wrong tool for the job. Close the damn borders down. You did it after 9/11 you can do it again.
Did you vote for McCain?
You only need a passport to travel in and out of the country.
And?
Sorry but I missed your point.
Actually, referring to your post #16, a photo ID would only be part of a more draconian program that would include closing the border, heavy and enforced fines on employers, and most importantly, eliminating anchor babies.
I used to be against the concept of a photo ID but, what with the aforementioned passport, and having been in the military, not to mention my drivers license, I've actually been subjected to this form of ID for decades.
So what's to fear?
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