Illegal Immigrants Steal Social Securities Of Elderly, Dead

Judicial Watch ^ | 13 JUNE 2007 | Tom Fitton

[radar101]

The favorable portrait of honest and hard-working illegal immigrants who simply want to feed their families was shattered when federal agents arrested dozens of undocumented workers using dead and elderly Americans’ Social Security numbers along with previously deported criminals at an Oregon food processing plant.

More than 165 undocumented workers were arrested in the raid at a major Portland fruit and vegetable processing plant for food giant Del Monte. At least 90 employees had fraudulent Social Security cards and many used the real Social Securities of juveniles, the elderly and the deceased. Others had fake green, or residency, cards and at least three are convicted felons who had been previously deported.

The previously deported criminal illegal immigrants had been convicted in U.S. courts with crimes ranging from possession of heroin to identity theft and possession of counterfeit alien registration documents.

Immigration authorities launched an investigation into the plant a few months ago when a check of employee records pointed that only 48 of the nearly 600 plant workers had valid Social Security numbers. Because the plant staff varies according to seasonal employment changes, only 165 illegal aliens were arrested in this week’s raid.

Portland Mayor Tom Potter was outraged by the immigration raid, saying that it is bad policy for federal officials to go after local workers who are in his city to support their families while filling the demands of local businesses. He immediately issued a written statement expressing his anger and referring to the illegal immigrants as “Portland residents.”

[ndt]

"I work with taxes all day, look up advanced EIC on the irs.gov site."

Again, please post your evidence that this is an ongoing problem. I'm willing to consider it.

"I notice you don’t mention any of the other things, like what if they file before you do?"

There are a million and one what ifs. You seem to be referring to a known problem so please post your evidence so I can look at it.

[Old Professer]

You tell em’, Uncle Billie!!

[Duke Nukum]

Except for the fact that it’s illegal to steal other people’s identities.

I hear most employers keep the SS because if they sent stolen or bogus SS numbers they would draw undue attention to themselves.

[VOA]

Immigration authorities launched an investigation into the plant a few
months ago when a check of employee records pointed that only 48
of the nearly 600 plant workers had valid Social Security numbers.

Boy, these illegals make the anti-hero of "Day Of The Jackal" look
like a lazy slob when it comes to hijacking identities!

[I still care]

This happened to us. My husband was retired on disability, and we got a letter stating they were pulling his payments because he made substantial income the previous year.

When I got to SS, turns out someone was using his number and declaring income working for a carpet business. I told the worker that there was no way my husband could even get on the floor to lay rug, and her very snotty comment was, “Well, that’s what YOU say”.

Caused us a few uneasy nights. We ended up just signing a few affidavits, but you know the way the government works. Once they set you in their sights, they can make your life hell. And accuracy and intelligence is not something I expect from them. I wasn’t comfortable for a while.

[gpapa]

Your comment about illegal aliens paying into the SSA system is a red herring. If a citizen of the USA was caught perpetrating such a scheme he or she would be charged and punished for fraud, if found guilty, thru our normal judicial process. The law should be no different for any type of visitor to our country, legal or illegal, except those folks covered by war or treaties with other countries.

[ndt]

"Except for the fact that it’s illegal to steal other people’s identities."

Correct, but that still does not make the title of the article any more misleading.

"I hear most employers keep the SS because if they sent stolen or bogus SS numbers they would draw undue attention to themselves."

Can't say that I would be too surprised if that were true. That would be a healthy chunk of change for even a few employees. The IRS would not be looking for it and the alien would not want to check up on it.

[Old Professer]

When I want sandpaper, I go to Ace Hardware.

[ndt]

"If a citizen of the USA was caught perpetrating such a scheme he or she would be charged and punished for fraud"

It is fraud, I never said is wasn't. I only said that the title of the article is totally and intentionally misleading.

[ndt]

"When I want sandpaper, I go to Ace Hardware."

I'm thinking a joke just flew over my head.

[JamesA]

Pitch all politicians out of office...they are all crooks and scammers. They all have a bad case of the Me, Me, Me’s the heck with the will of the people.

[SuziQ]

The favorable portrait of honest and hard-working illegal immigrants who simply want to feed their families was shattered when federal agents arrested dozens of undocumented workers using dead and elderly Americans’ Social Security numbers along with previously deported criminals at an Oregon food processing plant.

Oh, please, like there aren't Americans doing this every day, already!

[gpapa]

The going wage for landscape labor here in California is $8-12 per hour. Carpenters $25-30 per hour. Concrete workers and roofers make $12-18 dollars an hour. All three of these class of workers are filled mainly by aliens, legal or illegal. Very few illegal aliens make less than or equal to the minimum wage, currently set at $7.50 per hour in California and scheduled to increase to $8.00 per hour on January 1, 2008. Official estimates of the illegal alien population in Calif. is around 2.5 million individuals in my recollection.

[ozarkgirl]

You can’t look up irs.gov??
Fine, here it is.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96515,00.html#QA3

Q3. How do I get Advance EITC payments?

A3. See if you qualify for Advance EITC payments by completing the five questions on the back of Form W-5, Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate, available here or through your employer.

If you qualify, complete the bottom part of the Form W-5 and give it to your employer. Then, based on your income, your employer adds additional money to your take-home pay in each paycheck.

[ndt]

"You can’t look up irs.gov??"

There is nothing about illegals in there. I want to see your evidence that illegals are abusing the EITC. You made it sound like a known problem I want to see how you came to that conclusion.

[radar101]

Office of Mayor Tom Potter
1221 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 340
Portland, Oregon 97204

mayorpotter@ci.portland.or.us

Phone: 503-823-4120
Fax: 503-823-3588
Mayor's 24-Hour Opinion Line: 503-823-4127

Mayor Potter urges federal action on immigration reform

(June 13, 2007)

"The debate around immigration in our country is emotional, heartfelt and, ultimately, corrosive. Resolving the issue won’t result from arrests that garner headlines rather than provide solutions.

"Fixing this problem will require real leadership at the federal level from both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, and the White House. [click here for contact information]

"I am encouraging you to write the leaders of both parties and ask them to begin bringing this country together around meaningful solutions that will acknowledge the human cost as well as the economic reality of 12 million undocumented workers in our country..." [more] Read Mayor Potter's statement on Tuesday's (6/13) immigration raids:

http://www.portlandonline.com/mayor/index.cfm?c=38500&a=158594

[Wolfie]

Hey, when your employer hired you specifically for your acceptance of low wages, ya gotta make ends meet somehow.

[ontap]

So you think illegals using other people social security numbers is fine?

[ozarkgirl]

There is nothing about illegals in there. I want to see your evidence that illegals are abusing the EITC. You made it sound like a known problem I want to see how you came to that conclusion.

I said no such thing. You are "one of those". Trying to put words into people's mouths when you lose an argument. I'm done.

[ndt]

"Very few illegal aliens make less than or equal to the minimum wage"

Actually I understand that, the other poster I was responding to seems to be assuming the opposite, that illegals are paid significantly less than citizens, "dirt cheap wages" to be specific.