Early last year, TSCL petitioned Congress for "Redress of Grievances" concerning the Totalization Agreement with Mexico.  Totalization agreements allow workers who divide their careers between the two countries to combine work credits under both systems to qualify for benefits.  The cost of the agreement to Social Security remains unknown because the specific terms have not been made publicly available.  In September of 2003, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that "the cost of a totalization agreement with Mexico is highly uncertain" because of the large number of unauthorized (illegal) immigrants from Mexico living in the United States.

Sign our Petition to Congress Protesting Illegal Alien Amnesty 'Guest Worker' Legislation and U.S. Social Security Totalization With Mexico

Under current law when an immigrant receives a work-authorized Social Security number as would happen under Totalization that person could later claim retirement benefits even on earnings while illegal.  The issues raised in TSCL's "Petitioner's Brief" on Totalization helped raise concern in Congress, increasing interest in the potential impact current immigration policy and proposed legislation would have on Social Security. 

As of press date, the Agreement was still under review and had not been sent to Congress.  Once Congress receives the Agreement they have only 60 session days in which to disapprove it, blocking its implementation.

January 2007