Department Of Homeland Security's New SSA "No-Match" Letter Rules Will Lead To Further Inappropriate Targeting Of Hispanic Businesses And Legal Employees
MALDEF calls on Secretary Chertoff and President Bush to abandon ineffective enforcement measures that only do more harm than good
August 10, 2007
WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its new 'no-match' letter rules with an implementation date of 30 days from today. The rules refer to letters sent to employers by the Social Security Administration (SSA) informing them that certain employees' names and corresponding Social Security numbers do not match the agency's records.
'Today's policy announcement from the administration will lead to chaos for employers and legal workers,' said John Trasviña, MALDEF President and General Counsel. 'The reality is that ICE and Social Security records are notoriously inaccurate and out of date which will lead to unnecessary targeting and firing of legal workers. There will be no real impact on the number of unauthorized workers as those workers will simply go find work elsewhere.'
'In addition, ICE will use no-match letters as a way to target enforcement. Hardest hit will be small Latino businesses because of the greater number of Latinos they employ. What we need is real reform, not a rehash of ineffective enforcement policies that will only lead to unnecessary disruption of employers and legal workers.'
'The new rules set forth a number of burdensome requirements on employers who may undoubtedly apply them incorrectly. We demand that ICE and SSA provide the training necessary to safeguard the employment and livelihood of the thousands of families and children that will suffer from erroneous firings.'
For all media inquiries, please contact Laura Rodriguez.
