Thread: Myrick to push action on numbers, workers

http://www.charlotte.com

Posted on Tue, Apr. 25, 2006

Myrick to push action on numbers, workers
Increased scrutiny raises illegal immigrants' fears
STELLA M. HOPKINS, FRANCO ORDOÑEZ & MIKE DRUMMOND
STAFF WRITERS

A senior congresswoman from Charlotte plans to announce legislation Wednesday in response to an Observer investigation that found illegal immigrants using Social Security numbers that are fake, stolen or belong to dead people.

The proposal from U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., comes as last week's national sweep of illegal immigrants heightened anxiety in Charlotte's business and Latino communities. Immigration lawyers say their calls are up. Illegal immigrants have new fears of deportation.

The fear may ratchet up as Congress reconvenes this week to take up stalled immigration reform.

Myrick expressed outrage at the newspaper's finding that Social Security fails to notify people when their numbers are used by others, despite the potential of identity theft.

She also expects her proposals, still being drafted, to call for Social Security and the IRS to share with immigration officials information that could help identify undocumented workers and their employers.

"The things you're discovering ... nobody was paying attention to," she said Monday of the Observer's three-part series that ends today.

The newspaper found that illegal immigrants used Social Security numbers they bought or made up to get jobs building N.C. roads. The IRS and Social Security Administration know of possibly millions of cases in which illegal workers use someone else's number to get a job. But the agencies don't tell the rightful owners and don't use the information to crack down on illegal workers.

The series appeared days after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff pledged to come down as "hard as possible" on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Last week, federal agents arrested 1,187 workers and executives -- including 44 in Charlotte -- at pallet-maker IFCO Systems.

Homeland Security agents said that more than half of IFCO's 5,700 workers used Social Security numbers that were invalid or belonged to others. The SSA has said that illegal immigrants are a major cause of about 9 million such mismatches a year.

Chertoff wants access to that information, which include names and addresses of workers and their employers.

Some Charlotte immigration lawyers say they believe their business has increased because of the Observer's series and the government raid. Employers are worried that their employee paperwork is not in compliance. Meanwhile, some workers want to know how to renew expired visas or become legal immigrants.

Alan Gordon, a Charlotte immigration lawyer and chair of the mayor's immigration study commission, said his office is fielding more calls from employers concerned about required federal forms. Employers have to fill out the forms for all new hires, who must provide identification documents.

"The press coverage has implied that employers can do more" to thwart illegal immigration, said Gordon. He also noted some employers' shock at seeing IFCO executives placed under arrest. Local employers are concerned they may face the same "even though they did their best efforts" to comply with immigration law, he said.

Likewise, immigration lawyer Ruth Gorman said her business has picked up in the last few days. She said some of her clients in the country illegally are making arrangements to leave and re-enter legally.

"They are scared and are perceived that they're being hounded," she said. "We prefer helping people adjust and stay here, rather than helping people leave the country."

Stepped up enforcement is driving some illegal immigrants deeper into the shadows, local Latino advocates said.

"It affects people going to stores, walking outside," said Angeles Ortega-Moore, executive director of the Latin American Coalition. "Normally, we get 25 people coming to the door. On Friday, we only had three."

Maria Barrera, who lives in East Charlotte, said people are phoning each other not to leave their houses. Eudy Vincay said he knows people who've quit their jobs out of fear.

Raphael Prieto, editor and columnist for Spanish language newspaper Mi Gente, said the Latino community is reeling from rumors of immigration officials in vans at area supermarkets rounding up illegal residents. A local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official denied that.

Disco Rodeo, a popular Latino nightspot, usually attracts 2,000 people into the smoky club each weeknight. On Saturday, however, only about 200 showed up, according to one local promoter.

Julio, a 32-year-old Venezuelan construction worker, said he left his construction job early Friday afternoon after hearing about recent immigration busts. Fear of being deported is part of living illegally in the country, Julio said. But he said it's never been like this.

"I can't stop working. I have to take the risk. But I won't take jobs near downtown until things calm down."

Health-care officials worried that fear may keep immigrants home instead of reporting to hospitals for needed care.

Lisa Sinclair, manager of parish nursing and health ministry at Presbyterian Hospital, said: "Out of fear, people will not take advantage of the opportunities that are out there."


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Mike Drummond: (704) 358-5248

She said some of her clients in the country illegally are making arrangements to leave and re-enter legally.

Don't tell me you can't get them to leave voluntarily! If they would keep the pressure up, they would start leaving by the thousands. I'm sick of people talking about how they won't leave and you can't deport them all.

You take away what they came for and they will leave! Simple as that!

It's Homeland Security for Goodness sake, if they really want this info, they can get it!

It keeps them home from work the fear of being deported? They should live in fear everyday of it as they are criminals in this country. Keeps them away from hospitals? Good then we don't have to pay for it. They should be afraid of deportation, very afraid....