Jul. 20, 2006 - 19:19 MDT

IT FOLLOWS

Somewhat the latest here shows up in an article by Roger Fillion of the Rocky Mountain News in this morning's edition of same, herewith quoted in full:

NEW HIRES SCRUTINIZED

About two-thirds of employers in survey check Social Security

"A new survey of Colorado employers suggests that about two-thirds go to extra lengths to ensure new hires are legally entitled to work in this country."

"A joint survey by the Mountain States Employers council and the Rocky Mountain News found that 65 percent of respondents said they verify the authenticity of a person's Social Security number as part of the hiring process. The move isn't required by law."

MSEC members participated anonymously in the unscientific survey, which was conducted on the group's web site. Two hundred seventy-one members responded

"The nonprofit MSEC counts about 2,500 employers as members. The group provides members with help in human resources, employment law and other areas."

"The survey results come amid a heated nation and local debate over illegal immigration and whether Washington should toughen U.S. immigration laws."

During a special session this month, colorado lawmakers passed a bill requiring employers to declare they've inspected a job applicants work documents and aren't knowingly employing an illegal immigrant. The bill is awaiting the governor's signature."

"In the MSEC survey, the roughly two-thirds figure for those who say they verify a new hire''s Cocial Security number sparked debate about just how diligent companies should be in checking a person's work eligibility."

"I can't imagine not taking all the steps I can take to verify Social Security Numbers. That's the responsible thing to do," said Thomas Fries, CEO of commerce City-based CP Co., a supplier of refrigerated transportation equipment. Fries also is chairman of the employer's council."

""it's a good sign that there are a lot of employers who think it is a normal thing to check the Scial Security number," said Paul Buono, the employers council's manager of immigration serices, "Verifying the Social Security number is a good idea."

"Social Security numbers and other data are gathered as part of documenting a person's hiring status on a federal I-9 form that a company keeps in its files. Immigration officials can demand the form as part of an audit."

"While not required by law, a company can verify the authenticity of the Social SEcurity data either directly with the Social Security Adminisstration or by usind a third-party business such as a payroll service."

"A much smaller percentage of respondents, 8 percent, participate voluntarioly in a work-authorization program operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The pilot project allows companies to check a person's work eligibility via the Inernet."

"Thirty-three percent of respondents said they don't verify Social Security numbers or participate in the DHS work-authorization program."

"Judi Hulvey, office manager for Alfred Industires, a maker of transportation products in Henderson, said the 65 percent of survey participants who said they verify Social Security numbers seemed low."

"I thought it would be higher than that," she said."Candice Jenkins, human resources manager for software maker Bolo Systems Inc. in Lakewood, called it a "poor business practice" not to verify crucial information suchas a Social Security number."

"But Jay Anderson, director of manufacturing for Medcegen Medical products in Northglenn, noted federal law "does not require the Social Security verification."

"He said the law does require employers to fill out the I-9 form. The form, provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, asks employers to note the documentation provided by a prospective hire to confirm their work elegibility."

"The information could include a Social Security number, a U.S. passport, a driver's licensew or other documents."

"Buono, of the employes council, said the relatively low 8 percent of respondents who participate in the Department of Homeland Security's work-authorizatrion program reflects a lack of familiarity with the pilot project."

"The electronic system is voluntary and is designed to enable an employer to confirm the employement eligibility of all newly hired employees."

"A lot of employers still don't know about it," Buono said. He also said the system "doesn't always work the way it's supposed to."

"Buono adivises employers to hold back on participating until DHS fixes the kinks in the system."

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A quote, "MSEC members participated anonymously in the UNSCIENTIFIC survey." Unquote

Who knows how many of those employers are answering honestly ? Do some of them have an axe to grind by their answers ? And those publishing the report, what is their angle ?

Something in my mind that has been floating for a bit of time, seems to me that in recent years it has been specified that Social Security numbers were not valid means of identity in most any business dealings. Makes me wonder, should Social Security cards carry a thumbprint on them ? Or would the "Big Brother" screamers object to that ? And why doesn't my drivers license have my thumbprint ?

So, is it going to boil down to the old system of numerous loopholes with a number of bypasses that will fail as it always has.

"Amnesty" of a few years ago seemed to accelerate the inflow of immigrants - - - what has changed ? Will future laws and means of identifcation are enacted, will they be ignored without the employers being held responsible ?

Jeepers, I remember some of my first jobs I worked I had to submit my birth certificate, seems to me my first drivers license application also had to have a birth certificate.

How convenient it has been to come up with a false Social Security number to go to work, and how convenient it has been that employers have not had the onus on their shoulders of proving they employ only citizens of our country.

Oh, well life continues to go on as usual I guess, IT FOLLOWS . . . . . . . . . .