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By Tovin Lapan (contact) 
Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012 | 3:33 p.m.
Reviving an issue raised during the payroll tax debate on Capitol Hill just before the New Year, Republicans have proposed eliminating a provision that allows U.S. workers who do not have a Social Security number but do have an individual tax identification number to apply for a federal child tax credit.
The proposal would help pay for an extension of the payroll tax cut, and close what lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called a loophole that allows people in the country illegally to receive federal benefits.
Immigrant advocates have pointed out that in many cases while the parents may be here illegally, their children are often U.S. citizens.
The refund checks now average $1,800 and at the end of this year the tax credit is set to go down to $500 per child. The proposal projects that cutting the rolls would save the government $10 billion during the next decade.
An excerpt from the Associated Press article:
Illegal immigrants have been barred from other refundable tax credits, such as the earned income tax credit for lower-income workers. But a 1997 law enacting the child tax credit doesn’t specifically exclude them from collecting that separate benefit. It was significantly expanded in 2001 and 2009 so that many more people are eligible for refundable credits, though the expanded credit is slated to expire at the end of the year along with other Bush-era tax cuts.
“Although the law prohibits aliens residing without authorization in the United States from receiving most federal public benefits, an increasing number of these individuals are filing tax returns claiming this refundable credit,” Rep. Sam Johnson, R-Texas, said when the House debated the payroll tax cut measure in December. “Illegal immigrants bilked $4.2 billion from the U.S. taxpayers (in 2010). I think that it’s time that we fixed it.”
We are getting ripped by the illegals again. With unemployment at 10%+, why should non citizens be working at any job.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada says the proposal unfairly goes after the children of poor Hispanic workers. Such kids often are U.S. citizens, even when their parents aren't, because they were born in this country.
"poor Hispanic Workers"
PLEASE undocumented workers are anything but POOR.
They use another persons SSN, they DO NOT report all income/money they receive, they are ENTITLED, by law, too many benefits USA Citizens are not, because of their UNREPORTED/DEEMED income AND if they are SO poor, HOW are they able to send SO much $$$ home?
THINK THINK THINK.
notice: A BUSH-ERA tax benefit...for illegals.
Where are all of the Republican excuses for this one? And, who are they going to blame?
Why does one arm of the government (ICE, Border Patrol) hunt down illegals, while the other arm (IRS) look the other way and issues the illegals Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers?
Here's a wild idea, have ICE go to the IRS and get their information.
Why is this sleaze Reid so concerned about ILLEGALS!! He should be concerned about us documented CITIZENS in Nevada and help us get jobs. This is the guy who is our Senator fr Nevada with Unemployment in the high teens. It's a joke . Unfortunately the joke is on us. BTW Senator where is the Senate budget? It's only been 3+years.
Oh Yeah? The 'no basis' Iraq war bilked $2 trillion from the Treasury in the form of debt. That has yet to be paid. The mortgage industry bilked home owners of $100s billions in commissions paid on worthless mortgages resulting in massive foreclosures.
This 'illegal immigrant' stuff is ginned up to take the heat off the real thieves who run the American financial system and play casino games to extract $billions in unearned commissions even at the moment.
The illegal immigrants do work that no one else wants. The Alabama laws created a vacuum for farm workers and created $billions of crop losses because the 'citizens' of the State didn't want to work in the fields. Ha.
The resurrection of this issue is nothing more then whining over missing cup cakes on the table while hams disappear unnoticed out of the freezer. The Republicans are looking for free hams and need a smokescreen to move them.
SunJon "The illegal immigrants do work that no one else wants."
Try to tell that to the tens of thousands of unemployed construction workers in the valley.
Or maybe some of the people that would do most anything to get a job with benefits at the strip hotels.
I don't see much for farms here but do come across a lot of people in the above two areas that will admit they are here illegally.
Okay, Blame Bush. Now can we get rid of it???
Which side does Harry "I never met a Hispanic I didn't want to vote" Reid come down on this?
I have to agree with SunJon on this one. Not saying it doesn't need fixed but the Gov't waste so much more money than we lose to illegals. How come they don't share the $ #'s of the illegals who pay taxes to fax SS #'s but don't try to claim a return.
Active1 when was the last time you saw a white man standing outside of home depot at 600am trying to earn some money? They'd rather show up at noon with a cardboard sign and their hand out.
After reading some of these comments, as well as comments submitted from other articles, I have decided to quit reading them. The reason-I tire of reading self-serving, utterly stupid remarks made by REALLY stupid people. The problem is that few folks out there (1) know the facts (2) fail to see the big picture. I love it when liberals continue to blame President Bush for all of our country's ills. Obama, who was elected by the dependant, lazy and ignorant, had all the answers. Guess he forgot them. Back to the point, read SunJon's comment. This jerk will take any issue and turn it around to blame anyone but our phony, lying, piece of ***** president. Suggestion to the masses who enjoy venting via these comment sections - stick to the issue at hand.
I just don't see the difference from illegals who have children born in the US and asking for assistance, than low income American citizens getting cell phones at the tune of $1.5 billion a year from the federal government. All these social program are a field day for abuse. If the government would do a better job in curbing the abuse, then there really would not be a problem with the program. Even Social Security abuse if on the raise but no one is saying a thing.
Sunjon is correct except it's not really a republican or democrat thing, it's a congress thing, and congress is the biggest pack of lying, thieving, con artists that there has ever been in the history of humanity. ALL incumbents should be voted OUT, because they are all polluted beyond saving.