FAIR Applauds Senate for Barring Illegal Aliens from Receiving Tax Rebates Under Economic Stimulus Package

WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) congratulates the Senate for adopting an amendment to the economic stimulus bill, H.R. 5140, that will prevent millions of illegal aliens from collecting rebate checks. A loophole in the House version of the legislation that would have allowed illegal aliens to receive tax rebates was both unfair to law-abiding citizens and legal immigrants, and fiscally irresponsible, according to FAIR.

FAIR applauds the efforts of Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) who led the effort to close the loophole, as well as the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders, Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), and the Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) for their efforts in safeguarding the interests of law-abiding taxpayers. The amendment, which bars rebates to tax-filers using the Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) was approved by a vote of 91-6 today.

“We urge the House to act immediately to adopt the Senate’s immigration language so that legal taxpayers are not forced to subsidize illegal immigration through the economic stimulus package,â€