Thread: Debate Heats Up Over Lottery Winnings For Illegal Immigrants

http://www.wral.com/news/8708971/detail.html

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Immigration reform rallies continue to attract people around the country. But the latest debate is not about whether North Carolina's 300,000 illegal immigrants should get to stay. It is whether or not they should be allowed to win the lottery.

The odds are long, but if you are 18 and win North Carolina's Education Lottery, there is almost nothing to stop you from collecting. As long as you claim your money within the set timeframe and prove who you are, the prize is yours.

“There's nothing to prohibit aliens or illegal aliens from purchasing or claiming a prize,’ said N.C. Lottery spokesperson Pam Walker.

Walker said all winners must show identification for tax purposes. The federal government takes 25 percent from a documented resident's prize, and 30 percent from undocumented winners. Back taxes and child support are also deducted.

“I think if you're not a legal resident or a person here illegally, you should not be allowed to win the lottery,” said Sen. Neal Hunt, R-Wake.

Hunt voted against the North Carolina Lottery Act. Now, he wants to change it, to ensure all proceeds go to education and all winnings go to legal residents.

That philosophy clashes with sentiment at recent immigration rallies. Demonstrators want to help immigrants get documented, not take away more rights.

“Well, I would hate to think people are so obsessed with the legal status of a person that they would absolutely worry about everything,” said demonstrator Maria Rouphail.

Right now, it is no real worry if undocumented residents win. But lawmakers plan to take a closer look at the lottery, and immigration status could come up.

South Carolina is now debating a bill to ban illegal immigrants from winning the lottery. However, someone can simply turn over a winning ticket to a legal resident to cash it in.

The N. C. Lottery also has no policy to report any undocumented winners to immigration authorities. Few states have an outright ban on jackpots for illegal immigrants, but it is possible the attention from their win could attract federal authorities. An illegal immigrant who won a $2 million prize in California was arrested just two days after he won. He was deported to Mexico a few weeks later, with his money.

Eh' they should have taken 3/4 of that money to pay for all the freebies he had while he was here.....

Illegal Immigrants Can't Hit It Big In Lottery

http://www.nbc17.com/news/8704514/detail.html

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Illegal immigrants in North Carolina can play the state's new lottery, but they may not be allowed to collect large winnings under the game's claim policies.

Lottery rules require winners of $600 or more to show a photo identification and proof of a Social Security number to claim their prizes. In the absence of a Social Security number, the lottery will accept a U.S. passport, a foreign passport, an identification card issued by another state, a U.S. armed forces identification card, a voter registration card or permanent resident card.

Illegal immigrants typically cannot get a Social Security number legally.

"If they don't have a green card or foreign passport, they're not going to get anything," lottery spokeswoman Pam Walker said. "Because they're likely to be an illegal alien."

Sandra Machuca, owner of La Centroamericana convenience store in Charlotte, said blocking illegal immigrants from winning would be unfair. Machuca said she has been selling about $1,000 worth of tickets a week.

"None of my clients are American," Machuca said. "Whoever wins has a right to the prize. That's why they buy the ticket."

State Controller Robert Powell said lottery officials should examine the issue.

"If you're here illegally, then there should be at least a legal determination as to whether you should receive the funds," Powell said. "If you're not here in this country legally, I don't know whether you should be eligible to receive lottery winnings."

He said he is not proposing a rule one way or the other.

A winner who doesn't have a Social Security number but does have required identification still will get paid but at the higher, nonresident tax withholding rate, 30 percent instead of 25 percent.

"Our policy on this mirrors many other states' and there is no intent to prohibit any person from claiming a prize," Walker said. "They simply must have the required identification."

Maryland and North Dakota restrict prizes to legal residents but guidelines for many states do not address the issue. States along the Mexican border make no effort to determine residency.