Don't call those who are in this country anything other than what they are, illegal aliens. Putting a sugar coating on the issue doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

This is a hidden and frustrating aspect of identity theft. I helped a woman in this situation through my web site at www.IdTheftAwareness.com. Let’s call her Good Nelda.

A nine year old girl, Bad Nelda, arrived from Mexico and was given Good Nelda’s social security number. Bad Nelda eventually obtained a legal birth certificate using the SSN. Good Nelda was unaware of the situation for years until Bad Nelda started working, causing the IRS to ask questions. Bad Nelda has obtained credit cards and employment using the SSN.

The interesting twist is that Good Nelda managed to get a phone number and call Bad Nelda. Bad Nelda pled her case. She’s been in America for over 30 years now and has two kids born here. She begged Good Nelda not go to the authorities to avoid deportation and separation from her kids. Good Nelda felt sorry for her and only asked her to stop using her SSN. That worked for a short while…
Bad Nelda continued her ways. Good Nelda contacted the San Diego police, Bad Nelda’s employer, the IRS and Social Security. A little activity ensued, but the situation remains the same.

This seemed like a slam-dunk case to me. I’m amazed the Bad Nelda is still free to misuse the SSN. The identity theft battle continues…

www.IdTheftAwareness.com

And then again, some people do know they are sharing their social security number with an illegal immigrant, but there is nothing that can be done about it. I have a niece who has known for about a year that someone is using her social security number, a Mexican working at some restrauant, and she reported it, but so far the person has not been apprehended. I have to just figure that they have not really tried to catch the person who is using it, probably because the person at the Social Security Office who told my niece about this was of Spanish origin.

I disagree with a statement you made: "There will be no kicking out of every undocumented worker;". Why not? Either we have immigration laws in this country, or we don't. These people are here illegally, regardless of what anyone calls them. They don't have any rights in this country. The BS being pandered about that they will do jobs that Americans (read legal citizens) won't do is a lie. They will do the same jobs for less money and benefits, period. The only reason they are allowed to stay is the political reason - don't offend anyone that might cost any elected official a few votes. As far as the credit bureaus are concerned - they are guilty of conspiracy to abet identity theft, money laundering, and probably in violation of the RICOH statutes. We could solve both problems with a little effort and political backbone, but it doesn't look like that will happen in my lifetime.

Doesn't the FOIA apply in this situation? Don't we have a right to get this info out of the SSA or IRS?

What a fabulous reason to issue these people valid and legitimate numbers of their own.

I learned about this in 1982 while applying for unemployment. I was first accused of having another job. When I denied it the matter was quickly dropped.

what an interesting artical!!
I never thought of this side of it before. Thanks for sharing it with us.

This is all part of the "Put American Citizens Last!" scheme that has been in place for decades. Corporations and businesses support it, and politicians and bureaucrats at all levels make it possible.

Banks, employers, and businesses can see all the information on American citizens, but this information (by law) is kept hidden from individuals.

Effectively, it creates a caste system in America where the lowest rung on the ladder is reserved for American citizens.

The reality is that none of this will be changed by politicians and bureaucrats, and banks and businesses certainly have no reason to want to change the system.

Instead, although it takes a while, the consequences will be that all types of things will begin to have strange problems--because, in great contrast to American workers who have a vested interest in the quality of their work, foreign workers (including illegal alien workers) are only focused on the short run and have no vested interest in being responsible for consequences.

If you study the news diligently, it is easy to identify these strange types of events. Automobiles spontaneously combust, because a part was designed or built badly. Toys injure and kill children, because the toys were never tested fully or carefully studied before being manufactured in another country where responsibility for quality and safety is less important or nonexistent.

Drugs and medical equipment fail unexpectedly, because the companies are more focused on making money than on quality, reliability, and thorough testing.

Things that worked reliably simply stop working so reliably. You can observe this very easily once you begin to keep a mental list of all the odd, unusual, and strange things that happen. Some of these things are only in the news for a few hours or days, but they are reported most of the time.

If you check MSNBC.com several times each day, you will find plenty of examples of strange stuff--but, it takes a while (weeks rather than a day or two).

In summary, this is a great article--and, it provides excellent information that corporations, politicians, and bureaucrats do not want American citizens to know.

Keep up the great work!

Excellent article and so very true. Why isn't it that Congress or all the immigration groups are bringing up this issue? The big push these days is that it is not politically correct to call them 'illegal immigrants' but rather undocumented workers. I say bull. Illegal is as illegal does. They are unlawfully present in the U.S. and many if not most of them are providing fraudulent documents or assuming other identities - and presenting themselves to the government as those fraudulent identities for tax and other purposes. And the fact that many have screwed up so many innocent victims lives and finances but can now quite possibly get away with it without facing criminal charges is beyond comprehension. Those who used fraudulent federal ID such as social security cards et.al. should be charged and the Social Security Department should be tasked by Congress to do an audit on the issue. I nominate Congressman Tancredo to get the ball rolling. He is my hero!!

I wrote emails to Senators Clinton (NY), McCain (AZ), Obama(IL), Durbin(IL) and congressman Hyde(IL) about this same issue a few days ago. Stating that any immigration reform should include background checks on illegals for identity theft.

I live in Illinois but wrote Clinton and McCain because they are like to run for President in '08

You'd think this would be enough to scare American's into doing the jobs that "American's won't do."

Living in Indiana - a state that has seen an 80+ percent increase in immigration over the last several years is tough.

Getting our politicians to tell us where to report suspicious activity is even tougher.

Hopefully people will open their eyes and realize that immigration DOES impact them before it's far to late.

this is bs. Bush has to do somethign and keep the illegal immigrants (not undocumented workers) out of this country. Drop that stupid guest worker program, that's just so he can keep his workers at haliburton.

this immigration bill is really a sad issue. the problem that no one seems to address is that as long as mexico and other latin countries economies are poor, it encourages people to come to this country. i can totally relate. my husband used someone elses ssn for 5 years and was never caught, if the company knew they turned a blind eye to it.

It is unimaginable to think that elected politicians are pandering so much to a group of people that they are completely abandoning the the majority. This article brings to light another untold piece of an issue that demands action.
I am completely in favor of immigration. Legal immigration.

I can't believe our government chooses not to deal with these issues. Identity theft is a huge problem, tell me what the benefit of being a true American is, a citizen. I can get the same rights with absolutely no accountability if I were an immigrant.

Much of what ails America is due to "Wet-Backs"! That's what President Eisenhower called them!Increaed crime,slums,job theft,taxpayer cost for medical care, children's education,social services and loss of taxes through cash payments/transfers. We need a revolution. Nothing short of it will cure this problem. Democracy has betrayed us!!

The IRS, SSA, and HHS all know which SSNs have multiple remittances per pay period and thus which are being used fraudulently, but also realize that multiple people cannot claim SSA/Medicare bennies under one SSN nor will tax returns be filed for refunds, especially with earned income credit. The result: ID theft is a profit center for the government, a HUGE moneymaker. As Deep Throat said, "Follow the money". We have been "sold" to Mexico and MExico has outsourced crime and social services to us with nothing in return. U.S. citizens attempting to work in MExico are promptly arrested. NAFTA? "Fair" trade? Nope...a SELLOUT!

People have a right to know if someone is using there SS number illegally. Agencies, companies, and individuals who know about this, and don't tell, is tantamount to knowing of a crime and not reporting it.

If banks and even car dealers have access to this, why doesn't law enforcement? If you suspect you are a victim of identity theft, couldn't you go to your local police department and give them your ss#. Wouldn't they be able to see who is listed under that number especially if a crime has been commited in the past(maybe even a speeding ticket since your ss# is tied to your license?). The police can't be as restricted under privacy rules as a business organization.

I don't get it? Every employer that files W-2s is readily identified by the SSA unless they file a false name and address. But then what would be the point of them filing at all? So why isn't the SSA going after them?

I definitely think I deserve to know as much about what my SSN is being used for as a car dealer does. I think Social Security should be required to provide reports to the proper holder of a number on demand. If you can walk into a Social Security office with proper ID, you have a right to know everything about your record and number that they do. Just tightening up on this issue would get rid of a lot of these immigrants and a lot of fraud as well.

I have heard from an I.R.S. person that they already have been issuing temporary S.S. numbers to illegals so they can get back witholding taxes. Go figure this out.

Good article. It's time that the "system," i.e. the IRS, SSA, the banking and finance industry, the credit bureaus, etc. start behaving in a way that is not downright hostile to the average law-abiding, tax-paying American citizen. This is not anti-immigrant, it's pro-average Joe.

Bob,

Great job as always. I never would have known about this--or written about it myself--if it wasn't for you. This is the kind of thing that NEEDS to get into the debate, because it affects everyone in this country in ways they don't even realize.

Keep it up!

Issue a valid # for each identified invlid number delivered in person by a federal official to the place of employment as soon as its discovered.

While I understand that identity theft is a terrible thing to suffer and should be brought under control, I think an interesting point that is brought up in this article, which would appear to be the opposite from what the media generally reports, is that undocumented immigrants are paying taxes. This article cites 9 million people paying their taxes with the wrong SSN, and suggests that although there are some clerical errors or oversights on the part of recently married women, undocumented workers are paying taxes, at least Social Security. This is an interesting point in light of the argument on the anti-undocumented worker side which suggests that undocumented workers are sucking this country dry by coming into the country and working, not paying taxes, and getting lots of government benefits for which they have not paid any taxes.

What's really bad is that the burden of proving who is the original holder of an active SSN is placed on the person who discovers the abuse. Your column has reported incidents where the infringer is presumed by the lender in question to be the valid holder. And the lender conceals the infringer's identity. From a lender's point of view, fraud losses are a cost of doing business. As long as there are no penalties for lack of diligence on their part, the lenders have no incentive to change. Not even the Social Security Administration is hurt - and how are the suspended social security taxes accounted? The only way to get our government's attention is through our elected senators and representatives. A groundswell of citizens who lift their heads out of the daily grind of life long enough and often enough will direct attention to this issue. Say nothing, and the lobbyists and special interests have the only voice. In that respect, America has the best government that money can buy.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and relocated to the mid-west a few years ago. Last year my husband made a trip to the doctor but was held up at the receptionist's desk because she had someone in her database with a hispanic name as the owner of his social security number. The idea that immigration issues are only a west coast problem is outdated! It effects us all. I do know for a fact that companies empower illegals to do as they do. While working in L.A. I witnessed hispanic employees coming into the office to have their social security numbers changed in their files! More shocking was the fact that these companies gladly complied! Now, how many times have you ever changed your social security number? Is it even possible? I suppose the only way to stop all this mess would be to stop treating illegals as criminals and issue them some sort of worker's number in place of a social security number to begin with. I just can't help worrying that if it is so easy to steal a social security number, someone far more dangerous than an illegal worker can get one too. I don't think any of us would like to be sharing our number with a suicide bomber.

This is one reason why society should wean itself from depending upon the Social Security number as a one-stop clearinghouse for establishing individuals' identities. The SSN doesn't have enough characters to make it secure(notice how many characters are in a bank or checking account number); furthermore, the SSN doesn't have a "check" digit, as does, for example, a vehicle identification number, that verifies the other digits are correct. Relying on this one simple number as a one-size-fits-all comprehensive identifier (although driver license numbers are coming close) with no way for individuals' holding the number to track its use is asking for trouble. We all should be able to get a federal taxpayer identification number for tax purposes (only businesses, and individuals who can't get a SSN, can have these numbers assigned as it now stands). As long as our society insists on using numeric identifiers for people this won't completely solve the problem, but if the importance of the SSN can be "devalued" through the use of other types of identifiers, perhaps the mess we're in will get a little less worse.

Having experienced the identity theft issues first hand, its very hard not to want every illegal immigrant deported. These people, regardess of how much they assist the economy, are breaking laws. We would not be so tolerant if those laws were different: theft, rape, murder or child molestation. Not ALL of the illegal workers here are doing so because they are providers; some are running from the law of their native lands. Their behaviors are not going to change just because their address has. And in argument to the economy issues...up to 75% of their earnings are often shipped back to their homeland -- NOT recirculated in our economy. There are alot of hidden costs in illegal immigration...and the US and its legal citizens should not continue paying them.

I, too, agree that the undocumented workers need to come out of the shadows and I think that I deserve to know if my number is being used for someone else so I can protect the credit I have worked so long to build. My identity has been stolen twice that I know about. Even though the last time was many years ago, I still cannot write checks at certain stores. It is a nightmare. The people here illegally are breaking the law. Why must our government and privacy laws protect them? I want everyone to be able to make a decent living for their families, but why must it be at the expense of those who came here legally?

If we reform the laws and make it easier to come here and work legally, we will only be helping those who are now in the shadows. They are usually victims of crime who cannot report it, or victims of unscrupulous employers who take advantage of them with illegal hiring and working practices. They have no voice and no one to turn to. This problem needs to be addressed NOW or we all loose.

You have a very interesting column, with one big open end questions.
If only 20 % (1.8) of 9 million immigrants have a fake SSN, where is our dear Government spending the money.
If 1.8 million paid in $ 300.00 per year that would be about $ 540,000,000,000; and this as been going on for how many years.

Just maybe someone needs to ask the Accounting Department to show where this money is.

This really angers me even more....I don't really begrudge any person wanting a better life, but I expect that person to go about it through the proper channels. If they don't, then they're a criminal (no matter how desperate, they've broken the law), and should be denied access, charged appropriately, and deported. Stealing and providing false information is wrong, punishable, when does the U.S. send that message that it won't be tolerated? And why is our government not addressing the issue? It's ridiculous and unnacceptable. And it's a damn shame for all the law-abiding, tax-paying citizens of America.

There is another cost at our children's expense. Our schools in Oceanside and Vista, California, were in lockdown on Wednesday (3/29/06), Oceanside School District closed all Junior High and High Schools Thursday (3/30/06)and Friday (3/31/06), and Vista School District closed all schools on Friday (3/31/06) because of a few students who are protesting the illegal immigration reforms . All children in Vista and Oceanside schools lost valuable teaching time because a few students are protesting by walking out of schools, starting emotional marches, and are waving the Mexican flag.

Our country is made of generations of immigrants who followed rules in order to thrive here. I understand that some countries do not allow irregardless of citizenship non-native born people to purchase land Mexico being one. We in recent decades allow anyone to purchase, own and thrive at the expense of hard working, law abiding American citizens. I offer undocumentated workers or visitors staying/living within this country be issued a temporary but clearly designed non-citizen Social Security card. Visitors/non-documentated workers then could have witholdings held in the earnings suspense fund until they become citizens. Benefits would be available once citizenship is attained. Employers and immigration rights advocates could not argue we are being unfair or biased quite the contrary. What we are saying is that we do not deny you the right to thrive however, you must abide by rules no different than past generations of immigrants. Immigration and Homeland Security would have a better chance of monitoring non-citizen workers. Undocumented workers would have no excuse but to come forward. We then without fear of accusations could legally and justifiably deport undocumented workers. Employers would be responsible for confirming the legal status of prospective employees. When people who hire undocumented workers are held responsible they may reconsider their hiring practices. We then perhaps would eliminate undocumented worker arguments from both sides.

WOW! Now if only you could get the rest of the people who vote in America to read this.We should be outraged by this but watch, nothing will happen. Its a sad day when the majority doesn't care anymore and the minority pays the way in politics. Democracy really is dead.

Its not only immigrants that use others SS numbers its also disgruntled ex spouses. It is time that the federal goverment takes a stand on the issue of Identity Theft. As it stands now the victim is left holding the bag. They have to go through alot of hoops to get the reports right. Most of the time they are treated like they are the criminal. I myself have been a victim of Identity Theft not only once but twice in a 3 yr period. The laws on this seem to protect the criminal. Something needs to be done to protect a persons SS number and when it is used fruadulantly the system has got to come up with a better way of dealing with the victims. Credit is a fact of life. You need it for Car loans, Housing Jobs, Insurance almost every aspect of your life. Something as impacting as this on a persons life should be defended more adamently.

I was informed that a young "Mexican male" was using my social security # when I had to get a check cashed at a "Check Cashing Store" when I relocated from Dallas, TX to St. Louis. The lady at the counter gave me the man's Name, address, and D.O.B. - he is living in Dallas... AND when I notified the SS Dept. I was told that "You will only benefit from your SS# being used when it comes tiem for you to draw Social Security." THAT'S OUR GOVERNMENT! Not only is my SS# being used and a Government entity is aware of it - they APPROVE of it! What about my credit history? It's in a shambles and I am so deeply frustrated, I have no idea where to begin ot clean it up.. ESPECIALLY if I can't even get assistance from the Social Security people.....

Once it again it doesn't surprise me about such dealings happening. Once when I applied for an apartment, I was informed that I had an apartment in Columbus, OH and that I was unemployed. Both of which were false as I work and live in Cincinnati, OH. The hoops I, the victim had to jump through to get my 'life' back was mind blowing. I, was made out to be the criminal and not the real criminal.

When it comes to illegal immigration, I still wonder why those groups that want to help them become legal citizens/workers, put up a fight when those that are here illegally to begin with commit the crime of ID theft. Legal citizens caught doing so are punished.

more great news

SSNs should ONLY be used for receiving Social Security benefits, period. Employers should be forbidden to use them for anything other than tax purposes. I fought for years to stop our retirement fund manager from printing my SSN on every statement it mailed to me.

We may be at the point where we need some form of national ID card, complete with photograph, thumbprint and/or other biometric identification encoded on the card. Or, instead, each credit issuer would have to issue unique identifiers (other than the card number) to each of their customers. Costly? Yes, but probably no more than losses to fraud and ID theft now.

Unbelievable!!! I was raised to think my SS# was not only sacred but MINE. Now here again is proof of the hypocrisy of government. Why all this preaching about protecting the citizens of this country when they are unwilling to protect us right here on American soil. They all know it is happening but lets pretend its not. With the knowledge of ID theft at the top of most lists I do not understand how government can just stand by and put money (and the issue) in a "no-match" pile... How can SS be bankrupt if there is $500 BILLION sitting in an account? If they know that most of this money has been gained illegally then put it in the damn pot and save SS.
I am really getting tired of all these politicians speaking out one side of their mouth for/against an issue when out of the other side of their mouth they are using back doors unavailable to us mere mortals to protect their "assets". If people want to work in this country they need to have a work visa. They need to have their OWN ID numbers and pay their own taxes. If they bring their families the other adults should also have work visas and the children should have educational visas. If you can't find the motivation to become a US citizen in 5 years then get out and let someone else come in. And until you are a card carrying member of the good ole US of A you can not VOTE! People say that illegal immigrants are the only people who are willing to work out in the fields. I cry foul to a portion of that statement. Thanks to all those lobbyist and do gooders who claim to have more brains than the rest of us and really do know what is in our best interest, our children are not allowed to work. Now before you get your knickers in a wad I realize that there are people who abuse other people whether they are adults or children BUT... most children can not go out and pick strawberries, apples, pull grass out of wheat, any of those things I grew up doing, learning a good work ethic, because you have to have a work permit signed by your parents and be of an appropriate age. Now the government will enforce work permits for 14 year olds but not someone who is in this country un-invited. I am a born and bred American, yet I can't even buy a house in the area of where I work to make the very money I pay taxes on, because I make too much money ($32,000/yr)to qualify for any government assistance. Maybe I should make up a new SS# of my own and change my name to something exotic and foreign sounding... on second thought they may be on to something...I could still vote, I could still work, I could qualify for all sorts of government programs I am too American to qualify for now....Hmmmm.

The battle against illegal immigration is already lost. As always, the middle class will burden the load of paying for all types of social services that are part and parcel of having millions of illegals and their families make their way into this country. And American manufacurers are having it both ways: they are using illegal immigrants for cheap labor here in the States, and if that isn't cheap enough, they ship those jobs to India, Pakistan, or somewhere else to find someone who will work for even less.

This is where the heart of the Immigration Issue should be addressed. I encourage everyone who reads this article to write their Congresspeoson and Senators, and strongly encourage them to address SSN verification and the adressing of wrong tax funds and SSN funds in the bill.

I won the SSN lottery. Someone picked my 9 numbers. Don't be so niave to think that this will not happen to you, with nearly 12 million undocumented people who have illegally entered this country, and are looking for work.

Geeze, as a victim of previous identity theft, this just goes to show how screwed up our system is. And it really bothers me that our legal system won't recogonize ID theft as the serious crime it really is.

Our gov't doesn't care about its citizens anymore, we should change our slogan "gov't of the people, by the people, for the people" to "gov't of the corporation, by the corporation, for the corporation"

This is an outrage that this government has reaped the benefits of cheap labor while requiring the tax paying citizens of this country to subsidize the cost of illegal immigrants. There is such hypocrisy on this issue from Washington. This should not be an issue. There are existing laws which if they were enforced would eliminate the problem of illegal immigration. The politicians can no longer ride the fence.

I'd comment that here's yet another reason to crack down on illegal aliens and the employers who hire them; but I'd probably be branded a racist so I'll keep my mout shut....

If you would like to know if another identity is using your information, simply write to ChoicePoint for a copy of the information that they sell to outside entities. They will give you a complimentary copy of this information, pulled by SSN. You will see every name attached to that SSN in their system, which comes from the three credit bureaus.

You can also have the local police run a statewide check on your SSN in the national driver's license database. You will need cause for this, but if a state has issued a license under you SSN (like Illinois did as found out by Operation Safe Road), you will clearly see who the person is.

Just some suggetions.

This illegal immigration thing really gets my blood boiling. I too have heard about the identity theft associated with this issue but for some reason it doesn't get reported. The government knows when someone's SSN is being used fraudulently and won't let the victim know. Why? Because both parties are courting the Hispanic vote and niether wants to potentially lose that huge voting block. I hate politicians that put politics above doing the right thing! I would like nothing better than to vote them all out of office and replace them with average Joes and Janes that would do right by the American people.

Obviously there is a de facto agreement with those who benefit most from this situation not to rock the boat.

Ya know what I don't understand - they have to use verifiable SS#s.. but they don't have to match the name or address? Why don't illegals just make up numbers if the process is so flawed anyways? Odds are you could come up with a valid one!

I don't understand why the government can't simply create a national database using the Social Security's office original records. Social Security would provide numbers and their original matching name to the database. The government should make it mandatory for the IRS, SS, Credit Cards issuers, banks, and every organization that requires your social security number to check each number against the matching name. If they number/name do not match, then the credit card/bank account/Tax return/whatever would be rejected. Employers, banks, etc would require from the customer to provide a form of ID (Like Driver's license or passport) to ensure that no one steals your entire identity (name and social security). This solution is not all that difficult, and it still does not touch the sensitive immigration issue. It simply addresses the I.D. Theft problem,

I noticed in the article you did not mention anything about what happens to the monies in this "Earnings Suspense File" when the immigrants are caught and deported back to their homeland, what about the Federal Tax monies those immigrants have paid into for years and never collected can they go back and claim the monies....Oh wait they have to show PROOF right....These monies will NEVER be paid out to those immigrant in order to facilitate their latter years in whatever third world county they may have originated from, it is KEPT by the U.S. government under the auspice that it was never their SS # or right to earn a living in the first place. How many Americans are claiming extra money from Social Security and not saying a word because they are collecting benefits from someone else's labor? REMEMBER and immigrant knows they are using someone else's number and that they will never be able to get money back from their income tax and cannot file returns. Understand if someone has worked for 20 to 30 years in this country and is then deported or deemed deportable, that money is forfeit. Imagine $500 Billion dollars has been accumulated since they began monitoring in 1984 as you claim, have there been any disbursements or adjustments.......What about the money previous to to 1984? Harsh penalties don't you think for wanting a better life, imagine why would someone from another country want to stay in a country were they are treated like invisible people, vilified, scorned, overworked and despised,and simple things like the tax returns, social security benefits and medicare are not even earned or collectable at the end of the day, and any simple live they and their families have managed to build becomes meaning less based on prejudice and hysteria lip service from self serving politicians and the uninformed. It could be so simple an answer in that they happen to love this county despite not reaping 100% of the benefits, contrary to what people who have a forum such as this have to say

Shat happens to the $500 Bil? If properly applied, it could solve the social security cricis.

Are all 9 million people illegal immigrants or are there some people not getting the benefits of the Social Security system because of a mistake. Unless the letter are followed by INS agents they should go out to fix something wrong with the system. No wonder the government is slow, expensive and ineffective if they are not allowed to fix the problems of our citizens without having to worry about something they are not doing.

I don't blame the illigal immigrants for what they do. They were faced with a tough choice and they chose the most viable solution for their family. They are merely following the rules of survival. I believe the blame needs to go to the government, the businesses hiring illigals, and all the liberal hippies promoting and defending illigal immigration. The government knows where they are and that they are using fake SSNs, but don't do anything about it. The businesses know that it is a crime to hire illigal immigrants with false SSNs but they do it anyway because it's cheap labor. The hippies - well, there's just no excuse for them.
Unfortunately, the illigal immigration problem has been allowed to become such a huge problem because the government has been remiss in the case of enforcing the current laws. There is no easy way out of it. One group, or all groups, will have to suffer in order to fix this problem. Anyway, this is a seperate issue.
I find it inconceivable and unacceptable that we, the original owner of the SSN, are not allowed to see the complete file associated with our SSN. When in our lifetime did the criminals have more rights than the victims (enter the hippies). Why is it ok for a child's right to be happy become negated by a sex offender's right to rejoin society rehabilitated (60 days in jail for 4 years of child molestation!!!)? Why is a drunk driver's rights considered important when he/she took away an innocent person's right to live? Today's society has trully become shameful.
The US government needs to take immidiate action agains those that use someone else's SSN. They should track them down, fine them, fine the business, and stop listening to the hippies crying and complaining. They don't even need to find all of them. Just do a few and companies will get worried and start their own flushing.

The reality is we are all to blame when we nod our heads and allow companies that DON'T need our SSN to have them. Why does the heating oil company need my SSN? Why do companies insist on my SSN when I'm filling out job applications? How do I KNOW that the lady behind the counter didn't ask for the information for her own use?
When social security numbers were first created, citizens were told they would never, ever be used for any other reason than paying death benefits, for instance. Now, the request by companies for one's social security number is ubiquetess.
We should insist on companies that request our identity to sign an agreement with an attached monetary value for having to retrieve our identities should they be mis-used. While banks and credit card companies must be held accountable for their failures, we are equally to blame if we provide our private data like sheep, and don't insist on resisting! Insist! Resist!

What gets me is that all the illegal aliens are allowed to stay and work here to do jobs that "Americans won't do", that is a load of crap. Deport the illegal aliens and tell all of these people that are fully able to work and living off welfare, i.e. have their hand in everyone else's back pocket, and put them to work. There are an enormous amount of people just sitting around whinning on welfare because they just don't want to work well put them to work anyway. Tell them if they want assistance they have to have some sort of job and give them the jobs that are left vacant when all the illegal aliens are deported.

I think the solution should be for Social Security to use the same Tax Identification Number system that IRS uses in order to allow those people who have no social security number to file their taxes. Make it available to all immigrants whether legal or not, though I think the impact of illegal immigrants is not as great as some would think on this issue, since many get social security numbers freely from family members who are U.S. citizens.

What is it about this issue that our elected officials do not understand. These are ILLEGAL ALIENS and should be subject to the laws of our land and returned to their native countries. All of our agencies know where they are and should be out their enforcing the law. No one in government seems to care what happens to worker citizens of the United States. What makes my blood boil is watching the protests on TV with illegals waving the Mexican flag and demanding that they have rights and that we should be happy that they came here to take our jobs, lower wages, suck up our social services, change our culture and break our laws. If they came illegally the only rights they have are to be punished for breaking the law. I have no patience for this and I can honestly say I am a true progressive and liberal but this is just to much for me.

I think that in all this debate of illegal immigration , the american government is forgetting about the legal immigrants who are waiting in line for a piece of the AMERICAN DREAM. People from countries like India, China who are sponsored by their relatives in america to come to the USA -- LEGALLY , have to wait for at least 10 years to come to the US as a permanent resident. While people from countries like MEXICO ,most of who cannot read or write or even speak english just jump across the border and walk into AMERICA. Is this not a loss form americans that they are just getting the wrong kind of people. It is time for the american to ACT NOW , and to enforce the law and not fall into false arguments about how these ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS are helping the economy.

If privacy issues prevent the true 'owner' of a SSN from finding out who else is using their SSN, then perhaps there should be some changes in the laws.

The true 'owner' of an SSN should be able to find out everything they can about others that are using the SSN. After all, these people are in effect stealing the identity of the true 'owner' of the SSN. The others should be denied that information.

At this point the true 'owner' of an SSN should be able to take the people that stole the SSN to court to claim damages. Reparations could include recovery of monies contributed to the Earnings Suspense File.

Now if the people who stole the SSN are willing to get and use a legal SSN, then they can recover any of the money they have contributed, outside of the damages claimed. It would, after all, only be fair.

Of course to do this we would have to have a way of determining the true 'owners' of an SSN, otherwise the identify theft problem will get even worse. We would also have to have ways of detecting problems with honest SSN mistakes, because those would also occur.

I know too well what SSN only ID Theft is like, you see I am a victim of such theft. My SSN was stolen by a illegal immigrant. He used my SSN to obtain credit cards on which he ran up $13,000 debt. The sad fact is the victims are treated like manure. Law enforcment has neither the willingness nor the man power to pursue the perpetrators of these crimes. The credit industry will not pursue these matters either and why should when they are making money and getting a sizeable tax break by taking these fraudulent accounts off as a loss. I have had difficulties finding a job. I can not rent apartment. I can not buy a car. I'm 35 years old and thanks to our country's immigration policy and corperate America's need for cheap labor my life has literally been stolen from me. Yes I am angry!! Very angry! Where are my rights?? What happened my right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness? Apparently it don't exsist if it gets in the way of corperate America making a buck off cheap labor. This can happen to anyone and everyone. It probably already has and you don't even know it. It time for America to restrict Immigration. The Bills say within its own text that these are the right of every American CITIZEN not every illegal immigrant. Please support immigration reform.

To put all of the above contributions in proper prospective, I suggest you tune into the Spanish speaking TV stations ( there is at least one in every major city in the U.S. and the Spanish speaking radio stations. You do speak Spanish don't you? There you will find "Marching orders for demonstrations" along with recommendations as to how to "blend" into a form of fraudulent American citizenship. Be advised. We have long since passed the point of no return. This situation CAN NOT be recitified. But it could be a lot worse! Consider, if Africa, India and China shared a common land border with the U.S.

I think all illegal immigrants should be gathered up and deported. Make the Mexican goverment take care of it own or we will face a continual flow of poor people coming here and wages will remain too low for the average american. It's the average American that keeps the social security system creeping along. I am appalled that these protest are going on here- Why not protest the government that IS responsible for you? These people are not our citizens and don't want to be-because if they did there is are immigration offices everywhere!!! America for Americans!!!!!!

This truly is a sad problem that this country is dealing with. I am a hispanic man, and I feel that this issue will give all hispanic people a bad name.(at least those here legally) I was born and raised here, and I like it here. My father was from Mexico and my mother from Texas. This issue will only serve to further inflame the passionate on both sides of the argument. I do believe that something needs to be done, some kind of deadline to be established. They should be given a chance to get a legal visa, and if they pass it by... then out you go. This will no doubt cause deep divisions and rifts in our society, but sometimes you have to put iodine on a badly infected cut too. This is not going to be pleasant, but it has to be done. My mother currently is a victim of identity theft, and not by a hispanic person, but I can sympathize with those who are frustrated by the issue and the reprocussions. Let us not be quick to cut off a certain section of society, but instead be level headed when dealing with problems. Who has ever solved something in a good manner out of anger?

I know first-hand experience on how time consuming ID Theft is to resolve. The Credit Bureaus are largely to blame. Their incompetent staff and database can't seem to even reconcile basic information that is common across all 3 bureaus. Discrepancies are not flagged as potential ID Theft and the incompetence continues. No wonder ID Theft is so easy.

How can we call anyone who comes here illegally and uses someone else's social security numbers anything but criminal? I've also heard a big problem is the people crossing are hooked up with "Coyotes" who pay off border guards - if that's true why isn't that criminal activity reported as part of the problem? For every dollar we save in cheaper goods we're probably paying five in extra taxes for health care and education. In answer to "Just another immigrant", if they'd come legally they WOULD reap the benefits of paying into the system. Illegal immigrants are criminals. Period.

I don't think the real problem are the people but the situation they are stuck in. Without a social security number you cannot get a job or pay taxes or do anything else for that matter, except get paid under the table. The immigrants are already here, there is no way to get them out the only real problem comes when we have more immigrants coming in, if this is the real balance that we need, as of today, security needs to go up to stop an overflow of people in this country to avoid becoming over populated and all of its negative effects. As for the people already here they need to be identified first of all for security purposes, registered for work so that they can pay taxes so that part of their income flows back into the economy and honestly situated into society as citizens like you and me, immigrants are not a threat, terrorists are. Immigrants don't lower wages or take away jobs from American citizens, the fact that they live in the shadows, or have a black market of labor does, so let's bring them to the light...if we are all on an even plane, American citizens and immigrants legal or illegal, will they be people complaining of losing their jobs to immigrants? Of course. Why? Because we are going back to the same mentality that Americans forget they were immigrants at some point, and that their ancestors had to outwork someone in order to survive in this country so now you can complain that someone else is trying to outwork you when you have it better than everyone else in this world. If you don't like making $5 and hour then go somewhere else where you can make $.50

There are illegal Mexican immigrants in Minnesota who are using SS numbers from deceased individuals. The reason I know this is because a young girl I know was enticed to go to Minnesota to meet a man she met through an Internet dating site. He told her this information; so these illegal immigrants are not even afraid to tell others that they are doing this! And to top it all off, he claimed to be devoted church-goer!

The lack of government cooperation goes beyond that. There are people who work full time but because an ex or a company want money from them they change their name with their employer and then go collect unemployment using the original name. When I reported this to unemployment I was told to report it to INS. Unemployment continue to pay unemployment to this person even though this person was still working at the same company and unemployment had been told that.
And we wonder why taxes are so high. How many people do this? By the way the person in question was from South America and more than likely not here legally. I did have a green card but who knows if it was obtained legally?

This government is a joke! My father arrived on boat in '68 from Greece. He did everything the legal way, but what has happened to society and our governm,ent since then? Where is our federal ID, like every other government has in the world? Give me what is legally mine, my SSN, and give others a number to identify them, a FEIN, if if they are illegal! How simple is that?

My parents came into the United States in 1956. Before entry in the U.S.A they needed a back ground check from both country's along with a sponser accepting their entry. We have been in the states have broken no laws pay our taxes and work hard.
why should people come into this country and break the laws. If you want to live and work in the U.S. then do it the legal way.

Maybe we should use that extra money in the slush fund to pay the hospital and social services bills that are accumulating because these illegals walk out without paying. I think it might bring down my health insurance cost.

My ancestors came here the legal way, the stood in line, and went thru the system. Illegal aliens are just that ILLEGAL. They are a drain on service that TAX paying AMERICANS pay for. If they want to come here..FINE. But come to America LEGALLY!

Illegal immigration is a tool of Bush's globalization program. It creates an underclass of frightened, exploited workers, and simultaeously drives down the wages and benefits of US citizens. The empirical reality is that under this administration productivity and profits have soared while wages and salaries have stagnated or declined and private sector social benfits continually eroded. Globalization under Bush's GOP is not about free markets in capital, services, trade, and labor. It is about international cronycapitalism. It is the Gilded Age globalized. Illegal immigration is a cynical, heartless, conscious tool of Bush's plan.

hi,yes mexican's can get a id number in mexico so they can be claimed in the united state as a dependent
that is a law created by US goverment.

Is there a legal recourse for the affected individual besides going to the IRS or other agency? Can't these people be sued for fraud or something? It is illegal, right? How about a citizen's arrest?

This is my perspective on this issue. The victim doesn't know if his/her social security number is being used, and the immigrant sometimes doesn't know if this is a fraud. Imagined one comes in a country legally or illegally with no English and no place to live, and while sleeping under somebody else woof, one wakes him up and says get up for a job. Guest what; he uses someone else Social Security number without even knowing that. He doesn’t speak English, doesn't do the talking with the employer, and doesn't know the immigration laws. Sometimes one cannot even figure out how much money he/she is making until payroll day. What the immigrant knows; he gets up in the morning at the same time to go to work, finishes to work sometimes a little bit late during the day, and the pay check is less than it supposes to be. If that immigrant is clever enough, he might figure out that something is wrong. For one that doesn’t know if the US labor law should pay by the hour, that money just fly away? For the immigrant that knew that using someone else social security number was a fraud, if they woke him up in the morning to go to work and he/she refused, he/she might not allow to stay in the house anymore or eat food from the house's refrigerator anymore. You are in the house and you should contribute to the house's monthly bill. What are you going to do? Go back home? This is not easy and especially if your country had history of political crackdown and your family is back home and depends on you, solely you, but the only you. Also, that person might lose his house back home b/c during political revolution that house was burned and he could not go back. Most of the time, the immigrant doesn't know the immigration law. I see illegal immigrants attempt to get their social security number and some of them got arrested for deportation right in front or inside the social security office. Regarding using someone else social security number, one clarified in the article as mentioned above that, " the extra earnings don't end up on your social security statement b/c they are designated to the earnings suspense file instead". Why?
I have a lot of unanswered questions: When the immigration and Naturalization Services denied a work permit to an immigrant, why does he collect $170 work permit application fee to a hardworking one and doesn't deliver the work permit? Shouldn’t the Immigration and Naturalization Services send the work permit application fee back when the work permit application is being denied? If someone can explain that to me, I will appreciate it. This is not the appropriate way of collecting money to people.
Sometimes, that immigrant borrows money to renew his work permit in the intent of working and paying it back in the long run. By not giving that person a legal document to work or legalize his immigration status, the immigration and Naturalization Services’ policy forces one to commit fraud to survive-using someone else's SSN and work permit. This is wrong.
I firmly believe that: allowing permanent residency to all illegal immigrants in the US is the best approach to solve the problem. Then, we can educate them about the immigration laws in both the United States and overseas. I say an education is also needed overseas, b/c most youngsters have myriad of family members that came illegally from decades ago, they have a goal to enter in the American society, but don't eventually know the immigration Laws. Most illegal immigrant paid the consequences after they got cut. With the guest worker program, the immigration and Naturalization Services might one day renew one paper and does the same thing over and over again which is collecting money from people and don't renew their paper. The guest worker program will not solve the problem. Once that paper is not renewed, we will have the same problem again-social security/work permit fraud. Why not allowing permanent residency to all illegal immigrants in the US; especially, those who contribute to the US economy-put themselves to US colleges and Universities; pay tuition and taxes, and obey the law after learning from their mistakes?

If the money is placed in the "Earnings Suspense File," how can it be claimed? If an American is earning extra Social Security because of someone else's labor -- who is the bigger fool? The person collecting the extra money or the illegal who used that number to do the work? And there are some illegals who are finding ways to collect taxes so it doesn't all just sit in some "file." When so much of what you can obtain in the US is determined by your credit rating -- what benefits do we reap when our SSN is stolen and our credit ruined? And WE have to spend the time and resources trying to clear OUR name. Does the illegal who did the damage care? I don't think so. In all fairness I understand the immigrants wish to work in the US -- the land of opportunity. But where is the fairness when it so blatantly affects a US citizen? The government needs to remove it's head from the sand and open it's eyes wide and take action. This is not a problem that will go away on it's own. And having privay laws is one thing -- but when it prevents you from prosecuting someone who is illegally using YOUR SSN -- then you have a very broken system. How sad.

Thank you for writing about this! While I am a tax professional, I am also a compassionate person. Every day I experience what you have written. An illegal immigrant files a Form W-7 to obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) so they can file and pay taxes. My firm assists client in doing so and each and every illegal immigrant presents at least one W-2 showing wages earned. Let me assure you that absolutely NONE of the SSNs on those W-2s has ever legitimately belonged to the individual sitting in front of me. "Is this a good SSN?" I ask, and they shake their heads. This disturbs me at gut level and I tell myself that at least they are filing a tax return. However, the next issue is the untaxed, unreported cash income of these taxpayers. My personal opinion is that they, as well as all honest working class citizens, are indeed being exploited to support an emerging upper class in this country. Meanwhile, we work too hard and are too spent to seriously protest.

As an insurance defense attorney in South Florida, I can attest firsthand to some of the problems associated with undocumented workers using stolen or false identification, as well as counterfeit id's, social security numbers, and greencards, to obtain employment with small business owners who rely the validity of such documentation and pay payroll taxes and competitive hourly wages to such workers. I am not referring to under the table, below-a-living-wage hourly rates.

This becomes especially problematic when these workers get injured on the job, and then use their false identities to obtain workers compensation benefits, driving up insurance rates on small business owners.

There HAS to be a happy medium. The majority of these workers are people who are trying to provide for their children and families, and seek a better way of life. Indeed, my own grandfather came to this great country seeking the same dream. But he did so through legal channels, and he learned the language.

Im confused - who says that Americans won't do the jobs that the illegal immigrant do? Before the hugh influx of illegals, someone must have been doing these jobs! It's not that citizens won't do the jobs, it's that they won't accept the slave wages and no benefits for doing the jobs. Employers like the system just the way it is and if this article speaks the truth, so does the government. There is absolutely no incentive for change so we must change the government at the voting booth - get out and vote in November. If you don't, you have no right to complain.

This is increbible that our government is permitting this to happen. And just as worst the credit card companies are making money selling us identifty theft protection at about $100 per year,
when they could put pressure on the government
to stop this abuse of social security # theft.

I have worked in healthcare for over thirty years and I can tell you that the majority of medicaid receiptients are Illegal. At a hospital I worked at in California we found one person and illegal immegrant using a social security number that was also used by twenty other patients, all from the same farming area! These are American taxdollars being used. The hospital emergency rooms must treat patients legal or not because of emtala laws, yet if that person hasn't got medicaid then the bills go unpaid. We sometimes see some illegals pay (in cash) and then return the next week for further treatment of colds, flue and the like. The healtcare crisis facing middle income families in this country, who are struggling to pay for their own healthcare, is crippling our medical system!
My grandchildren in California are required to take spanish, they have spanish aids in the classroom, they have spanish signs, counselors you name it. Tell me other then a give away program for the farming and business industries, what exactly is the benefit of close to twenty million illegal's coming to this country?? The twelve million figure used by politicians is a drop in the bucket, there were more then 3 million illegals living in southern california in the 60's.
If the politicans weren't so beholding to the farming and business industry this problem would have been solved long ago. So, the American public is being sold out for what, profits and votes!
My husband is a first generation italitian, his parents who immegrated to this country the right way were required to have a sponser and a job before being allowed in. Then they had to become citizens, they did. They spoke italian in the home, but were required by their parents to speak english everywhere else, they flew the American Flag and all of their sons served in the U.S. Military. We have laws on the books, which are not enforced, this administration ignors the laws and then makes up new ones later when it becomes an issue! ENFORCE THE LAWS ALREADY ON THE BOOKS, CLOSE THE BORDERS, deal with those individuals already here and yes the jobs are low paying that is so these farmers and business's have bigger profit margins and don't have to pay a fair working wage to American Workers.
We have been sold out to the highest or rather lowest bidder my fellow americans and the politicians don't wish to do anything about this unless it means their jobs! The americans are the ones who should be protesting, but then of course we would be carrying the AMERICAN flag! Thanks Sue F

The one thing that people seem to keep forgetting is that these workers are ILLEGAL immigrants! Hello?? If you want to live and work in this country and reap the benefits, do it legally! Why should we reward people for illegal activity?

BEFORE CALLING SOME ONE A CRIMINAL OR A WET BAG YOU SHOULD REALLY BE INFORMED AND NOT JUST MAKE IGNORANT COMMENTS. THE U.S. HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND THEY DON'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT BECAUSE THEY BENEFIT FROM IT. DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THAT IMMIGRANTS TOUCH ANY OF THAT MONEY THAT IS BEING TAKEN FOR TAXES, MCARE, AND SOCIAL SECURITY?? NO THEY DON'T. THEY PAY TAXES WITH THAT FAKE SOCIAL, BUT YET THEY DON'T CLAIM IT AT TAX TIME. SOCIAL SECURITY IS BEING TAKEN OUT OF THEIR PAYCHECKS AND WHEN THEY RETIRE DO YOU THINK THEY GET IT?? NO THEY DON'T. MOST OF THEM GO BACK TO THEIR VERY POOR COUNTRY TO RETIRE WITH THEIR RELATIVES. OTHERS LIVE WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO TAKE CARE OF THEM AT OLD AGE.

Since it appears that we cannot keep out illegal immigrants coming from Central America, perhaps we should declare war on Mexico. After making it the 51st state, we would no longer have any illegal immigration problems. What a great opportunity for the President! He has probably been looking for somewhere to start another war anyway.

I have this issue, but with multiple uses of my social security number. I was applying for college loan assistance and was told i was not eligable due to my income, i did not have any at the time. The worker obviously did not know the law regarding diclosing information, because when i disputed it, i was shown the computer screen and then she printed the sheet out for me. At that moment as i was living in TX, i was also working in Washington, Arizona and Utah. I took all the information i had to the Social Security office and was told there was nothing that could be done and since they could not draw on the social security benefits, it really was not a problem.

Americans need to march just like the illegals have been doing in recent days. If we don't stop the illegals pretty soon, southern california will be owned by the Mexicans and the laws will only benefit them. Makes me wonder how many politicians also know this. Maybe an illegal for president.

Uncontrolled illegal immigration is destroying this country. Why bother to follow the laws or pay taxes when people who aren't citizens and don't pay their full share get the same or better social services than law abiding citizens? I pay taxes on my house to support public schools, I pay taxes on my wages to support an array of other government services. If I go to a hospital and can't pay the balance of what I owe, I can be sued in a court of law. If an illegal alien racks up 100k medical bill, its written off.

Illegal immigrants are doing manual labor and other types of jobs that would be done by citizens. But since employers don't have to pay taxes on those employees and can keep wages too low, ordinary Americans can't compete or make a living in those industries anymore.

Wake up America. High skilled jobs are being outsources, manufacturing is being outsourced, and a big pool of potential home grown employment is being threatened by uncontrolled illegal immigration.

Call your Representatives and Senators, write your Governor and state legislators. They won't do anything until you and others contact them. And if they want to turn a blind eye to this situation, vote them out.

$500 billion in windfall to Uncle? Geez, is there any wonder Congress is unwilling to do anything about it. Cheap labor and they are paying for the opportunity.

To "Just Another Immigrant:"

If illegals love this country so much they would respect our laws. The fact is you don't love this country, you love the opportunities it generously (to a fault)provides. If I understand this article correctly, the rightful owner of an SSN used by an illegal alien does NOT get the illegal's earnings applied to their SS accounts for retirement. They get put into some nebulous government suspense account. If you want your earnings credited for SS or Medicare, immigrate legally and get your own valid number. If you cannot, quit complaining that you'll work all those year but never get SS benefits because in the meantime your kids will get free schooling. Need free medical care? Just show up at any emergency room.

What bothers me the most is that there are so many illegals here now that they themselves are becoming enough of a political power that they can hinder efforts to correct the problem, as demonstrated by the massive protests against even a hint of immigration reform out in CA these past few weeks.

Is the United States at war or not? If we are at war as Emperor Bush would have us believe then why are our borders open during war time? I thought all immigration was to cease and the borders closed during war time to limit traffic in and out of our country.

Everyone in this country that can not be documented should be deported within 72 hours. Our government should do a background check on every immigrant wanting to legally enter this country.

Every time a social security number shows up with multiple users should be checked out and the authorities notified.

Our country is going to hell in a handbasket and the politicians could care less about the American People. I think it is time to let the Texans, Arizonans,and New Mexico citizens patrol their borders. If they don't have the proper paperwork to be in this country send them back to Mexico in a body bag with no questions asked. If they have papers make sure it isn't someones stolen identity. If we don't protect out borders we certainly can't depend on our government to do it. They have already proven how incompetent they are.

illegal aliens need to be kicked out simple as that. I know of person who came has been trying to come to America from Romania LEGALLY now for 5 YEARS, while Mexicans not only can walk across the border, but then are given pratically everything for free!! There is something terribly wrong with that.

Do illegal immigrants "love this country"? Or love it to death? The USA is supposed to be a country based upon a foundation of law. If those who love her won't abide by the laws (and our government won't enforce the laws), then the foundation of democracy has eroded, and diminishes the very qualities that have made America great. Earlier comments about having the best government that money can buy are right on the mark. Until we can remove the ability to buy influence (whether by PAC, lobbyist, or other means), we'll continue to see more of the same. What's happened to the noble concept of simply doing what's right for the long term benefit of American citizens? Apparently that's been sold in exchange for a campaign contribution. It's a sad chapter in our history and reminiscent of the corruption that brought the Roman empire to it's knees.

I feel that everyone is overlooking the obvious. The people that are coming here to make a better life for themselves are just trying to survive - if we were in their shoes - we would do the same. The problem comes from the mexican president - He needs to do his job and get his people working in their own country - he does not seem to be suffering, he just sitting around waiting for us to save his country. I feel sorry for the people of Mexico - but they need to get their government to do their jobs. If these illegal immigrants could have some kind of access to work in america maybe they would not be so tempted to do things illegally, afterall, they are going to do what they have to , to survive: so lets get real.

I don't believe that illegal immigrants are criminals. Not every single illegal immigrant uses someone else's social security numbers, most of them uses fake social security numbers and they are paying taxes that will never claim. In addition those illegal immigrants help the economy of the United States. Besides most of the illegal immigrants pay their own health care and they come to the United States and they don't get anything for free.
People should feel empathy for those and just be thankful to God that they had the opportunity to be born in the United States and they never suffered hunger or they didn't see their kids crying because they don't have the basic needs.
Illegal immigrants are not criminals and we can't judge people who try to make a living and provide a better future for their children. So, please I ask you to see illegal immigrants with different perspective and not to judge, becuase they are not criminals.

This is another example of the currupt culture that breeds in America today. It get's tougher and tougher to be a good law abiding citizen. It is extremely concering to me that our elected representatives have no problem enforcing the law as long as it doesn't effect the bottom line.

The real lesson here is that Social Security numbers should have remained just that: numbers for the Social Security Administration. But ever since other federal, state and local government agencies, credit bureaus and financial institutions got their hands on them, they've been exploited and maniupulated far beyond their original purpose. But that horse is too far out of the barn.

Why is it easier for someone to acquire and use my Social Social Security number than it is for them to login to my ESPN.com account? It's simple: because the SSN system is a decades-old relic of a paper-based society with no mechanism for authentication. In other words, there is no system to verify that the person presenting an SSN as their own is truly that person.

THE SOLUTION
1. First, let's stop kidding ourselves by calling these numbers "Social Security Numbers." These are citizen ID numbers and should be acknowledged as such. Sorry, ACLU. You'll just have to get over it.

2. Next, we associate every ID number (SSN) with an authentication "key" -- a sort of PIN for SSNs, but more complex than a four-digit number. Then, every time someone tries to use that number for any purpose (credit card, W-2 form, government benefits, etc.), they must also provide that authentication key. (Don't ask me who maintains that database of keys or how they are validated; I haven't gotten that far yet. There are a lot of people a lot smarter than me who can figure out the details.)

THE "A BETTER LIFE' ARGUMENT
I understand that illegal immigrants just want a better life for themselves and their children. If that's the real motivation, then do what citizens of other countries do when their government is failing them: rise up and change the government. Demand more from your leaders, your society and yourselves. Don't abandon Mexico to the drug lords and militias who operate with impunity and bribe, intimidate or kill those who would enforce the law.

NO INCENTIVES FOR BREAKING THE LAW
We don't need more immigration laws. We need sufficient, common-sense enforcement of the ones we have. I don't care what you call it -- guest-worker status, amnesty, whatever -- any program that rewards a law-breaking act (illegal immigration) with an outcome even better than the criminal had hoped for will encourage more of the same illegal actions and the cottage industries (smuggling, identity theft, etc.) it spawns.

Great article on ID theft and how corporations and the U.S. government collude to maintain the flow of cheap labor. You might add that this has always been the way the U.S. has "prospered," beginning with slavery at the very beginning of the country. One wonders what would happen if the laws were actually enforced; certainly a "way of life" would be altered beyond recognition. I rather expect that those who would be most negatively affected would be some of the very people who complain the loudest about illegal immigration. I mean, what would happen to Wal-Mart's customers? Would they smile and gladly pay the increase in prices that would inevitably follow any true enforcement of immigration laws?

What is this country up to? Every red blooded legal
citizen better get a handle on this or we're doomed
and it appears we are out of control.

I believe the problem is not with illegal aliens. I bet they do not know any thing about SSN or laws. It's the people who use them here are to blame. They make tons of money out of them as they are undocumented workers and could not report any thing to authorities. They are the one who assigns these stolen IDs to these undocumented workers.

Illegal aliens are here to work and support their dependents. If they opt out to do some thing else, then Central America will become another African continent where Civil wars for food takes place every day. It would not be good for USA having that type of situation in neighboring countries.

Also I believe it has to do with INS / DHS. There is no reward for legal aliens and Legla Aliens often to wait more time than an Illegal to become a Perm. resident. The difference is It costs lot of money and time to be legal vs being here illegally. Once in a while Amnesty programs are actually encouraging people to cross illegally and go underground until next amnesty takes place like some thing going on now in Congress.

It's whole lot complexed policies that needs to be addressed.

An Illegal alien had to suffer lot to cross the border and they risk their lives means they are desperate to feed their families. It's also better to encourage and help to build those economies rather leaving them in durt which will eventually slow down illegal crossing. Who would want to risk their life if they can feed their families to some extent when their economies gets better.

Think from all directions not just by Lou Dobbs view.

Think about this, who benefits from the taxes that the illegal immigrants pay. Remember now, your talking about a lot of money in taxes on a yearly basis. Also, what does the SSA do with BILLIONS of dollars that they have collected and don't know who it belongs to. Who is keeping all of this money that these poor so called "illegal immigrants" are generating into our Governments coffers. Why do you think that the government is not pushing or did not want to push the matter on illegal immigration.
One last thing. Think about this, what if you lived in a country where the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. What if you were one of the poor and you had children to feed. What if as hard as you tried you could not put enough food on the table for them, or that the few times that you were able to go to the store with them you could'nt buy them a single thing that their little hearts desired because you did'nt have the money. How do you think you'd feel. It would'nt matter how hard you tried because there was or has been a corrupt govt. in charge of decades. A govt. that caters only to the rich, a country with police who only take care off and look out for the rich. Then a friend or a relative tells you about this country where you can go and make more money in one week then you make in a month.
If you put yourselfs in their shoes what would you do? Or how far would you go to keep your family alive, clothed and well fed?
If I got off the subject, I apologize. It was just some thoughts that came to me from reading about our govt's current actions or inactions (which ever).

If citizens think that the U.S. goevernment cares about it's citizens' - They are sadly mistaken!! They do not care about us!! They do not care that they Majority of AMERICAN CITIZENS WANT THE ILLEGAL ALIENS OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!! LOOK AT ANY POLL THAT ASKS THE AMERICAN CITIZEN WHAT THEY WANT!!
THIS COUNTRY WAS BASED ON FOR THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE - BUT IT WAS MEANT FOR PEOPLE WHO BELONG HERE!!
TO THE ILLEGAL ALIENS - ESPECIALLY THE MEXICANS!! - THIS ISSUE DOES NOT HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR CULTURE OR HERITAGE OR ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHERE YOU ARE FROM AS AN ILLEGAL - MOREOVER - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PRESERVING YOUR HERTITAGE - IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU AS AN ILLEGAL - COMING INTO A COUNTRY WHERE THE LAWS STATES YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE. IF YOU WANT CITIZENSHIP GET IT LEGALLY - THE RIGHT WAY - JUST LIKE THE MAJORITY OF OUR FOREFATHERS DID!! WHY DO MY TAX DOLLARS PAY FOR YOUR ILLEGAL EDUCATION, MEDICAL BILLS, ACCESS PAYMENTS OR WELFARE. GET OUT AND COME BACK WHEN YOU CAN OBEY THE LAW IN THE FIRST PLACE> YOU BROKE IT ONCE GETTING HERE - SO ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL NOT BREAK IT AGAIN?? YEAH RIGHT!! - TELL THAT TO THE MILLIONS OF SSI #'S YOU GUYS USE EVERYDAY - ANOTHER LAW BROKEN!! GET OUT AND LET US KNOW WHEN YOU CAN LIVE AS CIVILIZED PEOPLE THAT CAN GET BY WITHOUT BREAKING THE LAWS OR OUR WALLETS!!

They should award the legal SSN holder the social security taxes paid by the illegal SSN holder, tax-free. That'd provide some solace to the victims...

It doesn't matter what you call it or how it's portrayed. The simple fact is our government turns a blind eye. If they thought they could get a few dollars more from us they would quickly incorporate a cross-checking system to make sure someone who has played by the rules has to pay every penny owed. That's the price we pay (no pun intended) for being stable, reliable, honest citizens.

i would like to know what would be so "fabulous" about giving ILLEGAL ALIENS social security numbers of their own.

should we then start going to other countries around the world- set up booths there so that any person on the earth can get a SS number and come live in the US?

what a load of you-know-what.

have any of you even THOUGHT about the millions of people who get into this country LEGALLY?

have any of you even THOUGHT about the pain the the ass those people go through, just to get in here the legal way?

i know for a fact, that if i had immigrated here, the right way, the legal way, and at some time later on 10-20 million people just gained US citizenship because our politicians are spineless whimps, i would be EXTREEMLY PISSED OFF.

the argument about ILLEGALS doing the jobs americans won't is TOTAL B.S.; the reason why those jobs are filled with ILLEGALS, is that those employers figured out that they can pay an ILLEGAL ALIEN about 1/20th of what they have been paying american citizens.

our politicians taking the non-action course again, gee, how new & refreshing.

please get your politician to vote heavy penalty for employers hiring ILLEGALS, otherwise this country is going further down the toilet.

Believe it or not, as stupid as it sounds, the proper owner not being able to view their entire SSN info is actually protecting that person. The problems boils down to authenticating who is the **real** owner of the SSN. Enabling the **proper** owner to view the info opens the possibility that the improper owner is authenticated improperly and sees the information, which exacerbates the problem because now they have a lot more info to get credit in your name, etc. Its a difficult problem, unfortunately one without a solution. There is no failsafe mechanism for authenticating individuals. To me the only solution is to minimize the need to have illegals "make up" identities. I know this isn't popular with many, but if illegals had a mechanism to register themselves for tax purposes, legal citizens would be much less vulnerable to this type of identity theft.

So... this Earnings Suspense File has collected $500 BILLION... for the reported amount of 9 million pople.
I agree in that those are undocumented people that are illegally in this country. Something has to be done to correct it. Have them go through the normal process to become legal; as well as prevent and minimize the influx of more illegal activities.
But the unfair discrimination and racism based on the false premise that "they do not pay" is now clarified and advertised... THEY DO PAY! So they are not receiving free health care, and their kids are not receiving free education... $500 billion should cover it.

Let's not confuse the bigotry and racism of trying to keep the United States for the selfish uneducated that forgot their roots (I bet they are not Sioux or Cherokees).

Illegals... YES. Need to be penalized? ABSOLUTELY. But at the same time, there has to be a process to correct that illegality and also a process to prevent it.

Is building a fence and walls the solution? Absolutely not. Understanding the underlaying reason why they come here may brign the solution up-front. Violence, poor conditions and the hope of a better life. Instead of spending money in building fences, this country needs to invest in keeping other countries safe, with good enough standard of living and the immigraion will be reduced.

Some would argue that is not the U.S. job to do this... do you want to keep dealing with this? Prevent it from happening... education may be the key. If enough is done in poor countries to have them educated; they may not come here illegally or not come at all!

But lets not use the "freebie" card; as it is not true. Even if the illegals don't get taxes deducted; they have to buy stuff... which has a sales tax already there. And what is the estimation of the hispanic market? How many billions in purchasing power? Makes you re-think the "they don't pay" argument, right?

Everyone blames the Corporations, but I work in HR and let me tell you the "laws" of hiring workers. We obtain information on an employee and call the SS office and they say that it is not a match. We then are told to inform the employee that there is a problem and that they need to go to their local social security office. Period. That's it. Can we fire them? NO! Can we do anything about it further? NO! They are extremely clear on the rights of employees, stating that there could be a simple error and that by firing or holding anything against this employee is illegal and they could sue you. So what happens? You sent their name in on the EDD form as a new hire, you contacted the SS office and now they work for you--Nothing ever happens and our hands are tied. Tell me how that is the Corporations fault?

I am reading alot of hate directed at illegal immigrants of Hispanic origin...FYI...look around you there are illegal immigrants here from ALL countries including the United Kingdom (England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Canada, Sweden, China, Japan, etc. Unfortunately, the poster child faces of anti immigration rules are those of Hispanic backgrounds. You are all naive in your presumption. When the laws change it is accross the board for everyone it is not Race, Religion, Background, exclusive. Also the catch phrases of "let em go home and come back legal" that is being used, is a wash your hands approach especially with government red tape that is already convoluted in the U.S. for Americans (Driver's licenses, medicare, medicaid, social security benefits, disability benefits, credit scores, zoning applications, re-zoning applicztions, privacy laws, internet access issues, etc.) Do you really believe that deporting someone to their home country with understaffed and overworked immigration buracrats is humane and fair? Yes the process is already 10 years behind and that is a very very generous assumption .........so yeah thats it we can let em come back in legally ....... when they are in a pine box.......but we'll keep the $500 Billion and counting

Let's see my ancesters came from Ireland, Northern Ireland and as it was told to me by my grandfather, had to wait years to emigrate. They helped dig the Erie canal in New York State which helped with the economic boom and the industrial revelution in America. When those ancestors decided to stay in Central New York there were a lot of jobs available and they all had signs outside businesses. On them were written "Help Wanted...Irish Need Not Apply". I quess that was