A commentary on the 'Illegal Aliens to get Social Security' deal

After negotiations with Mexico's government, the Bush Administration has agreed to allow illegal immigrants who get amnesty in the future to claim the work they did while here illegally for social security.

This deal was actually made back in 2004 but has not been released until now. The agreement, while not submitted to congress, carries weight because of the precedent of executive agreement--an tool the president can use to make treaties without the consent of congress. While the document does not outright say that illegal immigrants can claim illegal work for social security purposes after becoming legal residents, it does not expressly forbid it--which, generally speaking, is a loophole that will more likely than not be used by many future legal residents. Social Security interest groups are in an uproar over this news, saying that with this new use the funds for social security will run out much more quickly. But Mark Lassiter, a spokesman for the Social Security Administration, said the agreement doesn't change U.S. law. The law states that those who do not have authorization to work will not get benefits under a totalization agreement. "To get Social Security benefits, you do have to be legally in the United States. This agreement does not address in any way immigration, immigration laws or override current law," he said, adding that a 2004 law, the Social Security Protection Act, prevents illegal aliens from getting benefits. However, the discrepancy is there..and if there's a hole, you better bet it will be used by those that can. I understand that the people are coming here for a good reason--to work, to find a better way of life, and to live the American dream..but with the citizenship test becoming an actual test of ideals rather than random fact memorization, it brings to light that these immigrants can more easily enter the country legally than they had been able to in the past. I suggest that the Immigration and Naturalization service begin some sort of program that allows those aliens who exemplify American ideals but lack some of the other skills needed to become an American citizen to be trained and taught those skills. The bottom line is, our current system does not work. These immigrants want to enter our nation and work. They work hard, they provide for their families, and if you look at history all of the people who cam to this nation had the very same yearning for freedom--financially and politically. These immigrants are no different from those who came in the 1870s to the 1920s (before the Smoot-Hartley act). The only difference now is the aftermath from the Smoot-hartley act that put in place a system of rejection--a system totally against our beliefs written down on the Statue of Liberty:

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door. --commentary by bobsp This work is an opinion piece with background information summarized from the Washington Times