ID Theft and illegal immigration

[MH1]

I just posted this in DU. I'm really ticked about this situation. I kind of knew it was going on, but had no idea that the government really has the info to track down these illegal employers, except they don't want to; and not only that, I was under the misconception that if someone bothered to monitor their SS statements and credit reports, they would find out if someone else was using their SSN. Bzzzttttt. Wrong again.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2544694&mesg_id=2544694

The one thing I was disappointed with in JK's interview yesterday is that I didn't think he hit this topic hard enough. Also, I looked up Kennedy's bill on Thomas this morning, and in the CRS Summary I didn't see anything that looked like it really addressed this issue in any effective way. But it was only the summary, and I was in a hurry, so maybe I'm wrong. I hope I am. But in any case the bill can certainly be amended. Tancredo's bill supposedly has a strong provision on this - perhaps Kennedy should adopt that provision (JUST that provision). Of course Tancredo's version is probably set up to harm smaller business disproportionately to mega-corps, or at any rate not take their interests under concern; maybe Kerry ought to take a look at softening it for small biz.

I'm posting here because I'm hoping anyone who sees this and has a better line to JK than I do...like MA folks... or just anyone who agrees and has the time and energy, will contact his office on it.

IMO this is the real crux of the immigration issue. Yesterday JK spoke to this exactly - as principle. I want to know that the legislation he supports contains credible provisions for actually implementing that principle.

[sandnsea]

1. Kennedy bill addresses employers

The key thing it does is transfer enforcement to the Dept of Labor and not the INS. Making it a Dept of Labor issue says loud and clear that this is not a revolving door game anymore. Also, it implements an instant check system so that employers can't use the excuse that they didn't know the documentation was false. So it does address employers more than we do now. But I still think success will only happen when individual people stop hiring them or turn the other way when a contractor shows up with illegals to reroof the house. You can tell just from the posts at DU that there are way too many people who have no problem with it at all.

I thought Kerry did a great job in his interview yesterday and hit just the right tone. I liked that he specifically put the focus on business and used the word exploit. And thank god he didn't say "jobs Americans won't do."

There are probably some other things that could be included in the bill, but like it or not, there are compromises between business and labor and legal immigration and farmworker advocates.

[MH1]

2. Thanks, those are good points.

Overall I was quite happy with JK's interview yesterday. The only thing I wanted more of was just the 2 point you mentioned: specifically how the Kennedy bill addresses enforcement of illegal hiring.

I think you and I are pretty much on the same page.