Supreme Court to hear case on immigrants' use of fake IDs

David G. Savage reports:

The Supreme Court said Monday that it will decide whether the government can use new identity theft laws to send illegal immigrants using fake identification cards to prison or to force them to leave the country.

The Bush administration, as part of its crackdown on workers who are here illegally, has increasingly relied on prosecutors and criminal laws to punish the offenders, rather than simply sending them into immigration courts.

"It's a bargaining chip," said Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors tough enforcement of the laws. The prospect of a long prison term can persuade many immigrants to accept a speedy deportation, he said.

But this legal tactic has run into trouble in some areas, including California and elsewhere on the West Coast.

Click here to read more of the report on identity theft laws can be used to send illegal immigrants to prison or home.

Click here for more on immigration.

-- Deborah Bonello in Mexico City

Comments

[The real Danny Lents - IdTheftAwareness.com]

I hope the Supreme Court rejects the argument that anyone can use a social security number that is not theirs and think that there is a chance it may not belong to someone else!

Using the personally identifying information of the another person is identity theft regardless of your immigration status. Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Common sense has to rule the day here. ID thieves must accept the consequences of this felony. The aggravated element could be argued but it seems clear that using a SSN that is not yours is wrong and fits the ID theft definition.

Why do you think that California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas are in the top nine states with the most identity thefts? (http://www.consumer.gov/sentinel/pubs/top10fraud2007.pdf) There is a strong connection between identity theft and illegal immigration. I understand the motivation of an illegal worker needing an SSN to work but that doesn't justify damage to the rightful owner of the SSN. This case is deciding which rights have priority -- the citizen ID theft victim or the illegal immigrant committing identity theft.

Put your self in the victim's place. Would you accept the excuse that your thief thought there was a chance that your SSN was not being used?

www.IdTheftAwareness.com

[southoc]

Immediate deportation without ever having the option to become an US citizen for any criminal. That means any non US citizen breaking the law.

[Carracticus]

If you use somebody else's Social Security number, whether that person is living or deceased; an innocent child's, a soldier fighting abroad or even a manufactured one, it has to be a violation of the law.

How many of the 37 million illegal immigrants, according to Tucson sector Border Patrol union local 2544 are using bogus, stolen or fake SS numbers and ID's?

We already know our own government gave 5 million illegal aliens cheap mortgages, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development using IRS (ITIN) numbers.

Helping the crash of our economy. How many citizens or residents have had their number used for whatever purpose and now are forever frustrated fighting with banks, SSA or finance companies, because an illegal alien used their number?

If I used another persons SS number as an American citizen, I would end up in front of a judge. Why are illegal immigrants being given special preferences all the time? Is it because we have a number of Liberal judges, who have never read the US Constitution, who think it better to interpret the law according to their own whims?

The middle class already overburdened with war appropriation funds, is still force to pay for the education, free health-care and Federal, state welfare handouts for illegal criminals. SIGN UP FOR THE SAVE ACT(H.R.4088) enforcement 'ONLY' law at www.numbersusa.com.

SIGN JUDICIAL WATCH, A LEGAL ORGANIZATIONS PETITION, TO RESCIND ALL 'SANCTUARY CITIES & STATES. www.sanctuarybusters.org/?source. www.numbersusa.com to Petition the SAVE ACT. For immigration facts not propaganda or lies,

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