Woman's SS# Used By 81+ Illegal Aliens

This NFDailyNews.com story is yet another reason why we should crack down on illegal immigration and require employers to verify social security numbers before hiring employees. Here are some excerpts:

DUBLIN, Calif. (AP) - Audra Schmierer's Social Security number really gets around. It has been used by at least 81 people in 17 states, most of them probably illegal immigrants trying to get work.

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"They knew what was happening but wouldn't do anything," said Schmierer, 33, a housewife in this affluent San Francisco suburb. "One name, one number, why can't they just match it up?"

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Schmierer realized she had a problem in February 2005, when she got a statement from the IRS saying she owed $15,813 in back taxes _ even though she had not worked since her son was born in 2000.

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What started as a hassle turned into a major headache earlier this year when she sought work through a temporary agency that learned her Social Security number had been used by a woman in Texas two years earlier. The agency could not hire Schmierer for more than a month while the situation was clarified.

Stolen or fabricated Social Security numbers are frequently used by illegal aliens in order to obtain employment. As you can see from this story, this often harms the people who were really issued those numbers. Since the purpose of a Social Security number is to track taxation, Social Security contributions and Social Security benefits, it is ridiculous that employers are not required to check the validity of these numbers before hiring new staff. Keep in mind that employers must contribute money into Social Security for each employee, issue tax statements to each employee and the IRS based on these numbers. Thus, if they have the wrong number, they effectively are providing bogus information to the Federal Government and in my opinion are either aiding and abetting a crime or at the very east are being very negligent.

The government either needs to stop forcing employers to contribute tax and Social Security money for their employees, or they need to create a fast and easy way to verify Social Security numbers and require employers to use it. Right now, employers are required to contribute money based on these numbers, regardless if the numbers actually mean anything. This is stupid.