Originally published Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Editorial
Another harvest coming, more immigration delay
The Bush administration's latest attempt to crack down on employers of illegal immigrants is as suspect as the error-fraught system it must rely on.
The Bush administration's latest attempt to crack down on employers of illegal immigrants is as suspect as the error-fraught system it must rely on.
Last week, the Homeland Security Department reissued a proposed rule that would levy penalties on companies that employ workers whose personal information does not match that of the Social Security Administration. After notification of mismatches, employers would have 90 days to clear up discrepancies or fire the employees.But, as Social Security's inspector general has highlighted, errors occur in about 17.8 million — or 4 percent — of the agency's records — errors that could generate a so-called no-match letter. In a December report, the inspector general noted that if these were used for employment verification, "the workload of SSA and (Homeland Security) may significantly increase — even if only a portion of these 17.8 million numberholders need to correct their records. ... "
Further, most of those erroneous records — about 70 percent — belong to American citizens who would still be burdened with proving their work eligibility. Among the reasons could be transposed letters or name changes because of marriage.
Clearing up errors is a good idea. The problem here is with the inflexibility of the proposed rules, the reliability of the government records and the lack of enough federal agency resources to support what will be necessary to correct the records.
The even greater problem is that the United States is heading into yet another harvest with a struggling economy that is underpinned by illegal immigration — still with no meaningful, comprehensive immigration reform. Momentum on promising new policies was dashed when the House refused to consider the Senate's earnest proposed solution.
In fact, Homeland Security was considering this no-match program last year but held off in anticipation of immigration reform. When that failed, the federal government stepped up enforcement with raids on work sites across the country. Last fall, a federal judge enjoined the no-match rule, saying Homeland Security Department did not explain its policy development well enough.
Enforcement of rules holding employers responsible for whom they hire is a worthy effort. To push forward with half a solution — based on unreliable records when the economy is struggling — is not.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist: New York terror trials will restore faith in rule of law
Charles Krauthammer / Syndicated columnist: New York trial a propaganda coup for terrrorists

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.
nwautos
Local riders say they've seen a surge in scooter interest in recent years, mostly from people wanting another commuting option. Seattle now ranks as o...
Post a comment
nwjobs
Post a comment
Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Do you suffer from "sitting disease"?
Post a comment
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Tugboat sinks at Seattle waterfront pier
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
- Craigslist adoption ad: A plea by young mother-to-be? A scam?
- Chase shrugs off loss of CD investors
- Woman stabbed by stranger in North Seattle
- Snow piles up on Cascade slopes
- Denny Triangle gains skyline, but tenants slow to come
- Illegal workers quietly let go
221 - Vikings easily beat the Seahawks
164 - Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord
152 - Palin excitement builds in Tri-Cities
131 - Metro won't cut bus service after all
110 - Cutting through breast-cancer confusion
105 - Historic health care bill clears Senate hurdle
91 - Tattoos at Mill Creek Church pierce skin, soul
60 - Jerry Brewer: Seahawks can't lean on the Hutch Crutch now
54 - Ranking the Pac
52
- Sprouts, raw fish on attorney's 'do not eat' list
- Tattoos at Mill Creek church pierce skin, soul
- Illegal workers quietly let go
- Food-safety lawyer's wish: Put me out of business
- Rediscovering Moab, 'the most beautiful place on Earth'
- It's possible to recover a life lost to hoarding
- Child-support error costs nearly $21,000
- Architects, chefs find 'kid' within to build Gingerbread Village
- 'The Road' takes Viggo Mortensen to Mount St. Helens and Astoria, Ore.
- Washington state wines make annual best-of list





