Thread: Audit: 500,000 immigrants working without authorization

http://www.timesrecordnews.com

Audit: 500,000 immigrants working without authorization
By MICHAEL DOYLE
July 4, 2006

Privacy laws and a government agency's fear of bad publicity are helping protect immigrants who work illegally in the United States, including those in some potentially delicate government jobs.

In an timely new audit, federal investigators identified numerous immigrants who have Social Security numbers but lack work authorization. Nonetheless, they are holding U.S. jobs and are shielded from discovery despite the potential for harm.

"Non-citizens who work without . . . authorization could affect homeland security because they may obtain employment in sensitive areas," Social Security Administration auditors caution.

The audit quietly completed last month resonates anew this week, as House and Senate committees initiate summer hearings into immigration reform and border security. The hearings include competing sessions held Wednesday in San Diego and Philadelphia.

"I don't know what the real purpose of the hearings is, except to delay the bill," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill, said Wednesday.

In fact, each hearing tries to mold public opinion. The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Philadelphia, titled "Examining the Need for a Guest Worker Program," was dominated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other supporters of a comprehensive bill. Law-enforcement advocates like Border Patrol union head T.J. Bonner dominated the House subcommittee hearing in San Diego, titled "Border Vulnerabilities and International Terrorism, Part I."

"President Bush is going to have to bring us all together ultimately to get this resolved," Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts said. "The president has to play the major role now."

As the lawmakers maneuver, with some proposing a border-security "trigger" before guest-worker programs begin, important lessons reside in the work by the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General. The study goes beyond the familiar topic of illegal immigrants, and into the trickier area of legal immigrants holding "non-work" Social Security numbers.

Hundreds of thousands of legal immigrants hold properly obtained Social Security numbers that can be used for federal benefits even though the immigrants lack work authorization.

But in their review of major employers, the auditors found a "widespread" problem of immigrants who are working even though they have non-work Social Security numbers. More than 61 percent of the non-citizens reviewed were working without authorization.

Although the Social Security Administration has the individual employee's information on file, it does not notify employers of the potential violations. There are many reasons; including, auditors say, the agency's concern for its own reputation if it errs.

"(Social Security Administration) stated disclosing incorrect non-work status information to an employer could have a negative impact on the Agency because it could lead to improper terminations of employees authorized to work, which could lead to adverse publicity for SSA," the auditors noted.

Auditors added that Social Security officials also worried that "disclosures of incorrect information could lead to numerous additional visits to field offices, distracting the agency from its core mission of administering the Social Security program."

Social Security officials could not be reached Wednesday to discuss the audit. In the agency's formal written response, though, officials caution that they are limited in what information they can provide an immigrant's employers.

"The Privacy Act prevents the disclosure of such information," the Social Security Administration noted.

As a kind of a warning shot, auditors recommended notifying immigrants that their work status has been forwarded to the Department of Homeland Security. Social Security officials retort that that would require separate letters to more than 500,000 individuals who are employed despite having non-work Social Security numbers.

"We believe that the proposed actions would have a minimal effect on (Social Security) program administration while creating a substantial workload," Social Security officials stated.

Auditors found that eight out of 10 immigrant health-care employees were working even though they held non-work Social Security numbers and lacked work authorization. Sixty-eight percent of university workers and 44 percent of government workers reviewed by auditors were working even though they, too, held non-work Social Security numbers and lacked work authorization.



(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

That is frightning.

Auditors found that eight out of 10 immigrant health-care employees were working even though they held non-work Social Security numbers and lacked work authorization. Sixty-eight percent of university workers and 44 percent of government workers reviewed by auditors were working even though they, too, held non-work Social Security numbers and lacked work authorization.

Why are we giving out SS# to people who should not be working in this country?

What is a non-work SS#?

Why would a legal immigrant not be eligable to work but eligable for federal benefits?

Originally Posted by Brian503a

http://www.timesrecordnews.com

Audit: 500,000 immigrants working without authorization
By MICHAEL DOYLE
July 4, 2006


"I don't know what the real purpose of the hearings is, except to delay the bill," Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill, said Wednesday.



(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

Mr. Gutierrez is obviously confused. The real purpose of the hearings is not to delay the bill. The real purpose of the hearings is to 86 the bill!!