The illegals crackdown: Tough tacos
The illegals crackdown: Tough tacos
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Illegals often and easily use false Social Security numbers to obtain work. Now, the Department of Homeland Security is putting employers and workers on notice that names and Social Security numbers had better match.
We shall see if enforcement takes root or if this is a cynical ploy to placate conservatives in advance of next year's election.
Why our concern? While promising a crackdown, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff also lamented Congress' failure to pass a new law that would have granted virtual amnesty to illegals.
The Social Security Administration routinely sends out millions of name/number mismatch letters (9.5 million in 2005) notifying employers and workers of discrepancies. Some problems owe to simple clerical errors. Others involve fraud. All too often, the letters are ignored.
Under the supposed crackdown, employers will have to clear up the discrepancies, fire the worker or face stiff fines. Gee, maybe bosses should also start reporting illegals for deportation.
Obviously, the open-borders crew is worried. And Social Security officials fear they might not be able to handle the clerical load if there arises a heavy response to the mismatch letters.
Tough tacos. Nobody would be in this mess if the White House, Congress and private-sector employers had not looked the other way while cheap labor poured illegally over our borders and found jobs.
It's time to act.
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 21624.html
