Another shower of criticism has hit President Barack Obama’s executive order on immigration that shields some 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation. This time it’s for potentially giving them thousands of dollars as a reward for all the money they have earned illegally.
Obama’s order gives its recipients Social Security numbers and work permits. That also makes them eligible for income tax credits. The credits pay an average of $2,000 a year, and recipients who worked before, but file under new Social Security numbers, can claim up to four years worth.
A couple of Republican politicians are objecting to giving out the tax credits to illegal immigrants, saying it burdens taxpayers.
“This program severely undermines the White House’s lip-service to enforcing the law and would increase the burden on law-abiding taxpayers,” said Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.).
But half the illegal workers already pay income taxes without being able to claim most of government benefits. Wouldn’t it be fair to let them have something in return?
There are estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S. About 8 million of them work, and of those, some 4 million pay taxes, often using stolen or fake Social Security numbers to file.
