Concern is building over the impact that "guest worker" immigration amnesty legislation and the pending Totalization Agreement with Mexico would have on Social Security.  Congress, wary over voter backlash, has held numerous hearings around the nation, delaying action on pending immigration amnesty legislation.  In addition, TREA Senior Citizens League cranked up the heat by filing two Freedom of Information Act lawsuits in U.S. District Court.  The Social Security Administration and U.S. Department of State have denied repeated requests submitted by TSCL under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) seeking a copy of the Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico, and information regarding the impact the agreement would have on the Social Security system.

Under both Totalization and "guest worker" amnesty, millions of immigrants who are currently in this country illegally would gain access to work-authorized Social Security numbers.  According to estimates by the Center for Immigration Studies, the Totalization Agreement alone could drain hundreds of billions from Social Security. TSCL believes that this would trigger benefit cuts for other retirees who earned their benefits legally.

TSCL continues to fight this threat to earned benefits.  To read more about this see "The Truth Behind Totalization." 

Sources:  "GOP To Conduct 21 More Hearings," Bennett Roth, Houston Chronicle, July 28, 2006. "Social Security Totalization, Examining a Lopsided Agreement With Mexico," Center For Immigration Studies, September 2004.

October 2006