gingrey.house.gov

Gingrey
Contact: Chris Jackson 202-225-2931

House passes Gingrey amendment to prevent Social Security for illegal immigrants

Washington, Jul 19, 2007-

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed an amendment offered by U.S. Congressman Phil Gingrey (R-GA) to the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations bill that fixes a loophole in the Social Security totalization agreement between the United States and Mexico. Our totalization agreement with Mexico threatens the Social Security Trust Fund by allowing Mexican workers in the U.S. to claim Social Security benefits and vice versa. As currently negotiated, the U.S./Mexico totalization agreement will allow the work of an illegal immigrant in the U.S., prior to 2004, to count towards the 10-year work eligibility requirement for claiming Social Security benefits. The Gingrey amendment would prohibit funding for the current totalization agreement, as it is inconsistent with federal law. The Social Security Protection Act of 2004 prohibits illegal immigrants from claiming Social Security benefits. Gingrey’s amendment passed by a vote of 254 to168.

“Our Social Security system is already on the fast track to insolvency,” said Gingrey. “Totalization is a great deal for Mexicans, but it’s a raw deal for American workers. We are rewarding illegal immigrants with benefits, when we should be focused on closing our borders. Let me be clear: U.S. taxpayers should not pay Social Security benefits for illegal workers. My amendment reinforces existing law: if you undermine our immigration laws, we aren’t going to reward you for it.”

The Social Security Administration estimates that only 3,000 American workers would benefit from the current totalization agreement, compared to 50,000 Mexican workers who would claim U.S. benefits. These Mexican beneficiaries could cost our system $650 million a year by 2050.