How could they file tax returns if they had no Social Security numbers?
How could they work if they had no Social Security numbers?
Once provided SSNs (under the Dreamer amnesty) they can go back and file “amended” returns for the last three years.
There’s actually a positive to this, in that it creates a paper trail on both them and those who were employing them illegally (either without an SSN or with a fake one). Since this is a deferred action program, should a future President decide to end it, it provides a nice trail of breadcrumbs for Immigration to use in identifying and finding them.
If I were an immigration lawyer or tax advisor with possible clients waking in the door wanting to take advantage of this, I’d definitely point out the risk of a future president stopping the deferrals and resuming the prosecutions. Iirc only a fraction of the eligible Dreamers have actually taken advantage of the program, probably for just that reason.
They obtain ITINs (Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers) which are issued regardless of immigration status. They’re SSNs for resident aliens who aren’t otherwise eligible to obtain an SSN.