US check leads to wave of firings

Boston Globe Staff ^ | 3/18/2003 | By Cindy Rodriguez,

[Forgiven_Sinner]

A controversial program designed to clear up millions of erroneous Social Security numbers has resulted in a wave of firings all over the country, as companies are told their workers have invalid numbers, sparking fear that some of them may be illegal immigrants.

[Forgiven_Sinner]

Although the author seems to think the firings are a bad thing, I believe it is always good when our laws are enforced and illegal immigrants deported.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Follow the money.

$345 billion in uncredited money paid into the system,

The government wants to know how much of this money it can keep without having to account for it.

[LurkedLongEnough]

immigrant rights groups

Another name for "take-advantage-of-illegal-immigrants-fears groups? Any evidence to the contrary?

Can any FR poster relate actual experience with these groups? Maybe the groups themselves should be investigated.

[Ingtar]

Under federal law, employers may not ask their workers about their immigration status, but they are not supposed to knowingly employ illegal immigrants and can be fined if caught.

I think this might sum up the whole problem.

[TheAbbodad]

IMHO, the letters are serving their pupposes.
1. Notifying employers of possible SocSec. Fraud.

2. Ensuring that those who are working in this country are doing so legally.

GOOD FOR THEM

[flamefront]

Wholesale cleanup of illegals, PING.

[theDentist]

I recall when Dukakis was still Governor of Mass, (and driving it into bankruptcy) it was revealed that illegals were applying for various sorts of aid. The forms required SS numbers, and the order from the Governor's office was to "make one up". The Globe called that decision "compassionate". We call it "illegal".

[BJClinton]

No kidding. Our whole immigration system is in drastic need of overhaul. But maybe things have been put in motion.

[BruceS]

Under federal law, employers may not ask their workers about their immigration status, but they are not supposed to knowingly employ illegal immigrants and can be fined if caught.

Has to do with "reforms" enacted by Demoncrat congresses and Republican Presidents. We must be sensitive to the minorities that have high illegal immigration rates (if I were Hispanic and a US Citizen, I might feel the same way if everyone asked me to prove I was legal), but at the same time we need to punish those who knowingly hire illegals.

IMHO, employers should be required to check on anyone's documents they hire BEFORE they get hired. I wouldn't mind if my employer checked my Social Security number against the Social Security office before hiring me.

[Capt. Tom]

Soon after the defeat of Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis in the 1988 presidential election, in which he ran on a platform that emphasized ethics in government, it was discovered that state welfare administrators had been secretly supplying illegal aliens with fraudulent Social Security numbers so that they could receive welfare benefits. It is illegal for agencies other than the Social Security Administration to supply Social Security numbers, and it is also illegal for government agents to fail to report known illegal aliens.

[Madcelt]

the National Immigration Law Center

''No one objects to the purpose of the program,'' said Josh Bernstein, the center's senior policy analyst. ''The problem is that employers don't understand what it's about. They assume it's for immigration enforcement.''

Hmm. for a Law Center....selective enforcement( which Law must I obey?)of some laws must be the primary issue. I guess he failed to consider the laws the "employer" then faces by looking the other way.

[Once-Ler]

"Sitting on $345 billion in uncredited money paid into the system"

I've been assured by several Freepers that illegal immigrants do not pay taxes, but only absorb valuable resources.

I guess I'm happier with illegal immigrants working and paying taxes than with some of my fellow Americans who suck the life out of my paycheck through Social Security and Medicare( which I will never see. ) and unemployment benifits.

Hola Amigos!

[Sabertooth]

Wholesale cleanup of illegals, PING.

Let's hope it's not a "shift to the labor black market PONG."

[dila813]

This makes me sick, I have a small business and this is crazy, there should be a question on the application that says are you a US Citizen?

There usually is, if they lie they should be fired.

[FITZ]

Notifying employers of possible SocSec. Fraud.

Social Security fraud is a felony crime ---I'm sure they'd want to know if they have felony committing criminals working for them.

[old-ager]

"$345 billion in uncredited money paid into the system,"

Let them evenly distribute it over LEGAL SSNs, once it has aged a while.

[Blood of Tyrants]

What? When they can keep it for themselves? If you calculate the amount of money from the illegal aliens alone, it amounts to $10 to $20 EVERY YEAR. If there is not valid SS account to credit it to, then they can do whatever they want with it.

Think of it this way, you own a bank. A company periodically deposits a large amount of cash with you. Some is ordered to be deposited in account "A", some in "B", and some to account "C". The problem is that there is no account "C" and despite years of contacting the customer, the respose is always the same, "Well, the law says I have to send it, so I sent it. It is not my problem". What do you do with the money? The account it is supposed to go in to doesn't exist.

[B4Ranch]

sparking fear that some of them may be illegal immigrants

What fear? Why is anyone afraid of maintaining US LAW?