Immigration and identity theft debate lands in courts
By Ann McGlynn | Sunday, August 3, 2008 6:01 PM CDT | () comments

Federal agents busted Ignacio Flores-Figueroa at a Davenport house in January 2007.

The illegal immigrant from Mexico worked at L&M Steel in East Moline. He gave his employer fake identifications and Social Security numbers to do so.

He pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Davenport, to having those fake documents, as well as illegally entering the country. He went to trial on a fourth charge: aggravated identity theft.

Why?

He didn’t know his documents were those of a real person, his attorney, Gary Koos said. Many times, fake documents are just that — fake. The numbers belong to no one.

“He just wanted to get a card to get a job,â€