Posted on 03/19/2011 6:19:15 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
Hundreds of undocumented workers in the Valley are filing income taxes in hopes of creating a paper trail. They hope that path will lead them to a legal life in the United States.
Undocumented workers can't apply for a Social Security number. They can apply for an individual tax identification number or an ITIN. We were surprised to learn hundreds of illegal immigrants file taxes under an ITIN every year.
For some, filling out an application is like filling in a dream. These undocumented workers say filing their income taxes is a message to the government.
"So they know we are here. And we want to become legal. We want to do things in the proper manner," says Victor.
Victor and Juana are both in this country illegally. They are two out of hundreds of people illegally in the Valley. .
"In our country, it's difficult. There are more opportunities here for our children," says Victor.
Victor and Juana met on this side of the border. Now they have a child of their own. They say the threat of deportation is an everyday reality.
"It's difficult because we live in fear that they could just grab you because I am the only one that works and if they get me that would leave my wife alone" says Victor.
Victor is a welder. He says he makes about $350 a week. The couple is filling out paperwork. They need an ITIN, a tax processing number issued by the IRS. Like many undocumented workers in the Valley, this couple is at their union headquarters. To get help, LUPE coordinator Marta Sanchez says she helps hundreds of undocumented workers here every year.
"They do it with the hope that one day, if there is an immigration reform, that is going to be something that they can prove that they are already here working and they have not just arrived from their countries,” says Sanchez.
This couple, like many other illegal immigrants in the Valley, is pushing for recognition for legal status with every stroke of the pen.
The IRS says it issues ITINs to foreign nationals and others who have federal tax reporting or filing requirements and do not qualify for Social Security numbers. If you're in the country and undocumented, you must have an ITIN number in order to claim a tax refund.
Sanchez points out most of these folks do not make enough money to get a tax refund. Their motivation is primarily establishing a paper trail in the hopes of legal status.
http://lupenet.org/
They better watch out or they may get audited! /s
I heard the illegal aliens are doing it too.
“These undocumented workers say filing their income taxes is a message to the government.”
That message being, “We have so little respect for your immigration laws, or your willingness to enforce them, that we give you our names and addresses and here we are—being quoted in a newspaper article.”
B.S. If they make that little they will get all their taxes back, plus the earned income tax credit, plus the child tax credits.
Well maybe this was the plan for hiring thousands more IRS workers.
and we thought it had something to do with Medicare. /s
No kidding, they have figured out a way to get all their taxes back. Looting the treasury for sure.
Filing taxes and paying taxes are 2 different things...
And we want to become legal. We want to do things in the proper manner,” says Victor.
So why are you here illegally then? Criminals.
How many times have I heard that illegals pay taxes. Not filing would be just one more way they break the law. Another reason many can’t file is that the SSN on their W-2 isn’t theirs.
There fixed it.
i’m confused. why would they want to?
1. they live in the US.
2. they can buy a home with cash.
3. fire and police will show up if needed without fear of deportation
4. they keep the money they work for
5. they send their kids to the public schools for free
6. they go to the hospitals for free
where is the downside to being illegal?
Bastards ought to be air-dropped on Mexico City.
Exactly, they file to get money back.
We really merely want to potentially get everything paid for, includiing putting little Maria and Jose ahead of your Mary and Joseph in college admissions, financial aid and then they will also, by law, have to be given preferential hiring and prescribed advancement...oh, and the AA hires are last to be fired or laid off, all those “anti-discrimination/civil rights”-type lawyers ready to pounce.
Yes, we are being invaded and spent to death, but hey the lights still work...for now.
You are exactly right, under EITC, they make enough to ensure all they paid in will be refunded.
I have no idea why people would want to be the sucker the citizenry is...why not be illegal, there are very few, if any, consequences.
The anchor baby frees up a lot of US cash.
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