TSCL Leads Fight to Stop Social Security Payments to Illegal Immigrants “After Elections”

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TSCL Leads Fight to Stop Social Security Payments to Illegal Immigrants “After Elections”

President Bush is insisting “action will be taken” on his proposal to grant temporary worker status to millions of illegal immigrants already in this country. Under the proposal, immigrant workers — including some who entered the country illegally — would gain access to Social Security benefits.

The League has been working closely with Representative Tom Tancredo and other Members of Congress to try and stop this plan. The proposal has touched off a flood of angry letters, e-mails and phone calls to Congressional offices, including those from supporters of TSCL. The constituent furor caused Congress to back away from the proposal during this presidential campaign period, but the issue is far from over and may be under wraps until after the elections. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that the President “remains firmly committed to it.” Prior to a recent visit with President Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox said that he did not expect the United States to adopt sweeping reforms that would give legal status to millions of undocumented workers “until well after the presidential election this fall.” In addition, talks continue between the Bush Administration and Mexican government on a U.S./Mexico Totalization Agreement.

Sources: “White House Irks Senators By Inaction on Immigrants, Rachel Swarns, The New York Times, March 24, 2004. “Grown Cautious, Fox Expects Delay on U.S. Action on Migrants,” Ginger Thompson, The New York Times, March 4, 2004. “Bush’s Immigration Plan Hits Blockade In Congress,” Ron Hutcheson, The Washington Post, March 4, 2004.

June 2004