Lou Dobbs alert: Illegal immigrants may get rebates

http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0108/Lou_Dobbs_alert_Illegal_immigrants_may_get_rebates.html

Lou Dobbs alert: Illegal immigrants may get rebates

In their bipartisan zeal to quickly cut a deal on an economic stimulus bill, GOP lawmakers overlooked something that will certainly inflame the conservative base _ illegal immigrants could receive a tax rebate check from the government.

But late Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee was scrambling to fix the problem _ contained in the House bill _ by only allowing taxpayers using legitimate Social Security numbers to receive rebates.

The text of the House passed bill contains language making "non resident aliens" _ illegal immigrants _ ineligible for the tax rebates. But every year, hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants use individual taxpayer identification numbers, known as ITINs, to file income tax returns with the IRS. These ID numbers are used instead of Social Security numbers. There are no exact statistics for how many illegal immigrants file tax returns, but this New York Times story from last year details the significant increase in use of ITINs. This story also lays out the issue.

Immigration advocates point out that many legal immigrants use ITINs, so it would be impossible to tell who is legal and who is not from those who use these IDs. The Senate version of the bill would prohibit use of ITINs, meaning some legal immigrants would not receive rebates.

Republicans who were involved in negotiating the bipartisan economic stimulus package would like to avoid the illegal immigration debate as the $146 billion bill comes to the Senate this week. Congressional aides say the problem is that the IRS is not a law enforcement agency, so it doesn't check immigration status when people file tax returns.

"The reality is that those who filed a tax return will be eligible" for tax rebates of $600 to $1,200, said Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.). "This [issue] has not been addressed" by the senators writing the bill.

The issue has certainly caught on in the conservative blogosphere, though, and you can bet a few conservative senators will bring this up as the stimulus bill hits the Senate floor. CNN's Lou Dobbs will probably have a field day with the issue as well.

A spokesman for House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) points out that illegal immigrants are ineligible for any rebates and are committing tax fraud if they fraudulently obtain taxpayer ID numbers to file tax returns. Republicans also issued a memo Wednesday trying to defuse any controversy over immigrants and tax rebates.

"The bill includes language similar to the provisions included in the 2001 and 2003 tax relief bills designed to prevent illegal immigrants from receiving benefits," Boehner spokesman Kevin Smith said. "There is no language in the measure that would enable illegal immigrants to receive a tax rebate.”

Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a conservative organization, says the problem is not with the economic stimulus bill but with the lack of coordination between the IRS and immigration enforcement agencies.

"If the IRS was cooperating with Social Security or DHS [Homeland Security] ... they would know who the illegal immigrants are who file tax returns," Krikorian said.

It's not clear if the Senate fix will stay in the bill as the legislation heads to the Senate floor tomorrow.

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OTHER'S COMMENTS:
If they filed a tax return, they should be eligible for the rebate.
Posted By: | January 30, 2008 at 01:44 PM


This is only a sign of things to come. today the US government/corporation cares more about illegals than it does about its own citizens
Posted By: Juan McCain | January 30, 2008 at 01:44 PM


All U.S. citizens should be concerned about this for various reasons. The fact that it will be mostly conservatives who will object to this should itself be of concern. Also, perhaps Martin Kady II might consider doing some real reporting and looking into the seemy underbelly of ITINs. You know, follow the money like they used to do in the olden times.
Posted By: LonewackoDotCom | January 30, 2008 at 01:47 PM


Nobody asked the illegals to pay taxes. They shouldnt get a refund. How about instead of a refund, if your an illegal you get a one way boat ticket back where you came from.
Posted By: DK | January 30, 2008 at 02:00 PM


Wake up people. Lawbreakers do not deserve a tax refund. They are breaking the law by being here illegally and also by filing false returns!! Those of you who think this is ok are the real racists. Don't back down America.
Posted By: Joey | January 30, 2008 at 02:01 PM


if the check is sent to them in their home country, as the article indicates, how does that stimulate the U.S. economy?
Posted By: Lilly | January 30, 2008 at 02:03 PM