H.R. 98 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to enforce restrictions on employment in the United States of unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database.
Detailed Summary
Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act of 2009 - Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to require inclusion of encrypted machine-readable electronic identification strips on Social Security cards.
Requires the Commissioner of Social Security to: (1) develop the strip in a manner that enables employers to access the Employment Eligibility Database (EED) established by this Act; and (2) transmit to the Secretary of Homeland Security necessary information from an individual's application for a Social Security card or number for inclusion in the EED.
Directs the Secretary to establish and maintain the EED. Requires the EED to include data on the citizenship status and work and residency eligibility of noncitizens authorized to work in the United States.
Restricts access to EED information.
Prohibits individuals from commencing employment with a U.S. employer absent a Social Security card that meets the requirements of this Act and presentation of such card to the employer.
Prohibits employers from hiring individuals absent verification of identity and work authorization.
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) assess penalties against employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers or fail to comply with verification procedures; and (2) bring civil actions against those who fail to pay assessments or otherwise violate this Act. Establishes criminal penalties for such violations.
Requires integration of Border Patrol and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) fingerprint databases.
Prohibits this Act from being construed to establish a national identification card.
Status of the Legislation
Latest Major Action: 5/27/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: For Prior Action See H.R. 98 , 110th Congress, H.R. 98 , 109th Congress, and H.R. 5111 , 108th Congress..
Points in Favor
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Points Against
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Visitor Comments
Reality Check
March 3, 2009, 2:17pm (report abuse)Interesting - as of 03/03/2009 no comments on an ILLEGAL IMIGRATION bill that was introduced in January and revised 3 times since.
dmw
(logged in user) March 16, 2009, 12:11pm (report abuse)News that Reid-Pelosi-Obama could be aiding and abetting illegal aliens in taking the jobs of unemployed Americans.
http://rense.com/general85/sell.htm
Tom Kobylecky
May 8, 2009, 6:07pm (report abuse)Please start enforcing this, (finally), But once again, there has to be protection from being barred from the U.S. for immigrants who have spouses and children who are U.S. Citizens or lawful permanent residents, As long as the illegal alien has no other criminal offenses and is willing to pay a hefty fine, and go to the back of the line.
JJR
May 18, 2009, 8:16pm (report abuse)As I read the proposal I found it ironic the repetition that this is not a national ID card but that you can't do anything without it.
Also abuse can still happen since there is a secure 'phone' verification provision. and since when are magnetic strips so safe from copy or duplication?
LJ
July 6, 2009, 8:50am (report abuse)I wonder if in time this could be used to blackball someone who is a citizen born from getting work if they are at the very least found to vote in opposition to the present president or even against the Democrats in general.