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Congress penalizes U.S. troops, legal U.S. residents in attempt to punish illegal immigrants
Mercury News ^ | 5/7/08 | Ken McLaughlin

Posted on 05/07/2008 8:02:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

When Congress passed an economic-stimulus package giving hefty rebates to most taxpayers, it tried to make sure that illegal immigrants didn't get any of the cash.

But in doing so lawmakers inadvertently penalized hundreds of thousands of legal U.S. residents - and tens of thousands of U.S. troops stationed overseas - simply because their spouses lack a Social Security number.

--snip--

Because illegal immigrants don't have Social Security numbers and instead routinely use "tax identification numbers," Congress banned rebates for taxpayers who use the IRS-issued numbers.

If a married couple files jointly and one spouse doesn't have a Social Security number, the couple won't get the $1,200 checks that other couples will receive.

They're also ineligible for the $300 rebate per child.

Many Armed Forces members stationed overseas have foreign spouses who can't get Social Security numbers.

--snip--

More than 288,000 troops are stationed overseas, according to the Pentagon - not counting those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many live in places - Korea, Japan and Germany - where extended stays often result in marriages to locals.

--snip--

... legal immigrants who are being denied rebates say they want some justice, too.

"If the government collects taxes from us, we should be able to get rebates given to other legal residents, it should be a level-playing field," said Parveen Kumar, an H-1B visa holder who lives in Sunnyvale.

Kumar moved to Silicon Valley from India with his wife three years ago. .... But his wife, Anu, is on a H-4 "dependency visa" that doesn't allow her to work.

--snip--

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there are now between 600,000 and 800,000 H-1B visa holders in the United States. Exactly how many are married to spouses ineligible to work in this country is unclear.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: congress; economicstimulus; illegalimmigrants; penalizes; punish; taxrebates; troops

1 posted on 05/07/2008 8:02:17 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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sorry for the snippiness.

Seems quite a few mentioned have reason to be snippy as well.

Congre$$ and Big Gub at its finest


2 posted on 05/07/2008 8:03:53 PM PDT by NormsRevenge (Semper Fi ... Godspeed ... ICE’s toll-free tip hotline—1-866-DHS-2-ICE ... 9/11 .. Never FoRget!)
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To: NormsRevenge
I don't care about H-1B visa holders not getting money back, when we are running a deficit.

Spouses of soldiers should get an exception. But this articles is a clear case of liberals using the exception to undermine a logical rule.
3 posted on 05/07/2008 8:06:31 PM PDT by rmlew (Down with the ersatz immanentization of the eschaton known as Globalism.)
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To: NormsRevenge

Like Rush always says..
The biggest cost to this country is IGNORANCE.
Doesn’t become much clearer than this!

I am getting to the point where I don’t give a flying Fartola who is President, Hate them all.

If you have an incumbent, vote them out.

VOTE THE BUMS OUT!

(thank you, Mr Carr)

It’s kinda like “TERMING” without the Congressional Idiots approval.

Get rid of them all!

And their hideous staffers.. therein lies the problem.


4 posted on 05/07/2008 8:13:18 PM PDT by acapesket
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To: NormsRevenge

Since all the money congress is giving borrowed Chinese money they should not be so stingy and give $600 to everyone who asks for it, I would suggest giving money to people who claim their pets on their taxes.
I mean bring on the FAIR TAX and stop feeding the serpents in congress.


5 posted on 05/07/2008 8:26:32 PM PDT by machenation ("it can't happen here" Frank Zappa)
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To: rmlew

Why are H1B visa holders called ‘immigrants?’ Isn’t that a visa type for temporary workers rather than permanent residents?


6 posted on 05/07/2008 8:29:09 PM PDT by DancesWithBolsheviks (We're all mavericks now.)
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To: NormsRevenge

My wife is a LEGAL immigrant (K-1 Fiancee Visa, awaiting green card) She didn’t qualify either!


7 posted on 05/07/2008 8:35:04 PM PDT by Chief Engineer
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To: NormsRevenge
Because illegal immigrants don't have Social Security numbers and instead routinely use "tax identification numbers," Congress banned rebates for taxpayers who use the IRS-issued numbers.

So cry me a river.

8 posted on 05/07/2008 10:10:06 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: DancesWithBolsheviks
Why are H1B visa holders called ‘immigrants?’ Isn’t that a visa type for temporary workers rather than permanent residents?

BTTT

9 posted on 05/07/2008 10:11:32 PM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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