SOCIAL SECURITY to go south of the border?

[rainstorm]

Social Security checks could go south of border
Sergio Bustos
Gannett News Service
Dec. 10, 2003 12:01 AM




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WASHINGTON - U.S. and Mexican officials are discussing an agreement that would allow millions of Mexicans to return home and still collect U.S. Social Security benefits.

The controversial proposal that could transfer hundreds of millions of dollars in Social Security payments south of the border has riled some Republican lawmakers. They worry that it could reward scores of undocumented Mexican immigrants with a U.S. pension, draining the country's Social Security trust fund at a time when its future solvency is in doubt.

"Talk about an incentive for illegal immigration," said GOP Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. "How many more would break the law to come to this country if promised U.S. government paychecks for life?"

Supporters of the proposal argue that Mexican immigrants, documented and undocumented, pay millions, if not billions, of dollars in payroll taxes and have the right to claim Social Security benefits.

"Let's be honest, there are millions of Mexican immigrants contributing to the Social Security system and the U.S. economy," said Katherine Culliton, an attorney with the Washington, D.C., office of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund. "It's only fair they get back a benefit they deserve that will keep them from dying in poverty."

Final approval of any U.S.-Mexican "totalization" agreement is up to the Republican-controlled Congress. The Bush administration supports such an accord as a way to improve U.S.-Mexican relations.

And Mexico is prepared to administer an agreement, Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart told lawmakers at a congressional hearing earlier this year. U.S. officials said they are satisfied that the two countries could exchange information easily on potential Social Security recipients. Details of how to put the agreement into effect still need to be worked out.

Under a totalization agreement between two countries, workers could accumulate enough credits to qualify for Social Security benefits in either country.

what politicians wont do with that ATM card

[rainstorm]

ron paul has it exactly right. the ss system has a huge unfunded debt as it is. lets see, as it is now there will have to be a massive increase in taxes, as well as once again raising the retirement age. what about taking care of us citizens?

[WXBUFFJIM]

If we are giving Mexican immigrants social security, one question to address is are we giving them illegal social security? Also a bigger more important question is what about the American people???? If Bush wants to lower taxes for only the wealthy, then why ain't he lowering taxes to the middle class and the rest of us human beings???? Does it have to do with Mexican immigrants getting social security?????? Lots of questions, but this is an issue and so is the 1st amendment.

Jim

[rainstorm]

my biggest fear in 2000 was a democrat would get in office and spending would increase. it seems to me the bush administration is on a spending frenzy that just wont end. gore could not have been any worse than this.

[WXBUFFJIM]

If we are granting Mexican Immigrants social security, are we in a sense being ignored as American people??? Seems like an issue to me.

Jim

[blizzard]

It is a sad day when we have Americans who are not granted social Security even though they are physically disabled, but immigrants may be abled to get those benefits instead. Even if that disabled person put in to SS all of their life. My father in law is a perfect example. He was told by his doctor that he shouldn't be working anymore because he has a serious heart condition. Fine, except when it came time to apply for SS, he was denied. He was 53 at the time. So, here he is having to work, against his doctor's advice because he was denied benefits.

We'll have to see where this leads.

[rainstorm]

my feeling is the bush administration is using the ss system to buy the votes of hispanics. this comes on top of ridge saying he wants to legalize 10 million or so illegals in the country now. the bill are future taxpayers will have to pay is astronomical.

[rainstorm]

It is a sad day when we have Americans who are not granted social Security even though they are physically disabled, but immigrants may be abled to get those benefits instead. Even if that disabled person put in to SS all of their life. My father in law is a perfect example. He was told by his doctor that he shouldn't be working anymore because he has a serious heart condition. Fine, except when it came time to apply for SS, he was denied. He was 53 at the time. So, here he is having to work, against his doctor's advice because he was denied benefits.

We'll have to see where this leads.

very sad blizz!! the sad thing is if he had been paying that same amount into a private plan all these years, he would have a huge nest egg to fall back on. to me, it is criminal what was done to him. the govt took that money from him all those years. the govt should give that money back to him whenever he needs it!!

[WXBUFFJIM]

If Bush is granting social security to Mexican Immigrants to support more hispanics to vote for bush, then what about the rest of us as Americans????? He keeps this up, Americans will hate him, and even if hispanics vote for Bush, we won't. There is an issue here. More immigrant social security when we as Americans need it and want it, especially for the disabled. Then there is this issue regarding high taxes!!!
More money coming out of our pocket, not good isn't it?

Jim

[WXBUFFJIM]

One good reason we MUST have a more established healthcare system in this country. With Bush, that's not possible because he's mainly focusing on foreign issues and foreign affairs. In a sense, he's more worried about war and us security, which is not a problem with me. But we need to focus on more issues too like education and healthcare and giving more American people social security. If the Bush adminstration is ignoring us because of granting Mexican immigrants more social security, then Bush has a problem and so does his adminstration.

Jim

[Guest]

First of all, it's not Bush. It's the Homeland Security Advisor who said this. Second, if the day were to come that the govt sends OUR social security funds to other countries, the day would be marked by riots in the streets. I'm telling you, without a doubt, that I'd be raising some HELL. So instead of whining about the way our country is run, do something about it! Write congress, write the President. Heck, run for office if you think you can do a better job!

[Guest]

That first article blows Tom Ridge's comments out of proportion. Here's another article on the same story from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105419,00.html

WASHINGTON — Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's expression of support for giving legal status to immigrants drew congressional criticism Wednesday but heartened advocates.

At a town hall meeting in Miami, Ridge said the country needs to "come to grips" with an estimated 8 million to 12 million illegal immigrants and "determine how you can legalize their presence." He also said during a visit to Florida on Tuesday that the immigrants should not be rewarded citizenship.

Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, said Wednesday in Miami that Ridge's comments simply reflected the debate in Congress on immigration.

"Secretary Ridge addressed it very honestly yesterday, engaged in that debate, but clearly this administration has not taken a firm policy position on that and the debate continues," Hutchinson said.

But Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., said it was "inconceivable to me that Secretary Ridge is speaking for the Bush administration when he unilaterally and offhandedly suggests such a radical policy reversal that is guaranteed to encounter strong opposition in Congress."

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, slowed talks about whether to legalize millions of illegal immigrants in the country.

Ridge's words excited immigration advocates and one of Hayworth's House colleague, Rep. Jeff Flake, who is sponsoring legislation that would give legal residency to illegal immigrants through work.

"Those who are working here illegally need to be here under a legal framework. Secretary Ridge also understands that this needs to be coupled with serious workplace enforcement," said Flake, R-Ariz.

Judy Golub, senior policy and outreach director for American Immigration Lawyers Association, said she thought it was the first time that a top administration official had made "such a clear articulation of the fact that these folks are not threats and deserve some form of legal status."

Cecilia Munoz, vice president of policy for National Council of La Raza, said Ridge's comments broke two years of silence by the administration on the legalization issue.

[mf_dolphin]

Can you say "Chicken Little?

[Lindaloo]

Can you say "Chicken Little?

ROFLMBO!!!


mrschad.... well spoken.

[CaptinCrunch]

Most if not ALL illegal mexicans inthis country are paid in cash under the table.

For all I'm concerned illegals have NO rights to anything in this country period.

[GalvestonDuck]

Day late and a dollar short, you guys.

I'm not saying that SS checks are already being sent across the border via legitimate postal delivery...thankfully, that hasn't happened yet and I hope it doesn't. But please don't be blinded to the fact that many Mexican immigrants (legal, illegal, and those who were legal but now have expired visas) have already been receiving SS benefits by using fraudulent ID's, SS #'s, and birth certificates.

(When I say "many," I don't mean all and I am not making generalizations about all Mexicans or about Hispanics who are true, by-birth American citizens.)

I asked once before in a post several months ago and no one answered -- has anyone else here heard of the Reconquistador movement? It's an attempt by disgruntled Mexicans to "take back" their part of America, if not more, by gradually infiltrating their way back into homes, jobs, and banks on this side of the border.

[mf_dolphin]

There are at least a couple of issues here. If a Mexican citizen who works legally here in the US and pays into the SS system and meets the SS Syestem requirements, why would his current place of residence matter? Just playing devil's advocate.

Illegal aliens regardless of their nationality should have no access to the SS system IMO

[CaptinCrunch]

There are at least a couple of issues here. If a Mexican citizen who works legally here in the US and pays into the SS system and meets the SS Syestem requirements, why would his current place of residence matter? Just playing devil's advocate.

Illegal aliens regardless of their nationality should have no access to the SS system IMO

It's paying out SS to illegal's that is the issue, if you work here legally and pay taxes and SS then it's all cool.

[rainstorm]

its not cool. its expanding an entitlement program to another country. we are not responsible for mexiacan citizens, but we will soon be. more vote buying. the sooner bush is out of office, the better!!

[mf_dolphin]

What an idiotic statement Helen. If they are legal immigrants, have paid into the system, and qualify for benefits then they have every right to receive their benefits regardless of where there current domicile is! It's no different than an American citizen who retires to another country. They still get paid because of the same reasons.

I agree that illegals get nada! No debate here...