Posted on 06/16/2013 8:23:57 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Yet another glitch seems to be popping up in the immigration reform debate, and I’ll confess that I really didn’t see this one coming. One portion of the proposal regards expanding – and making mandatory in a variety of cases – the use of the E-Verify system. This would ensure that employers were making use of the system to screen out illegal immigrants when hiring. But if it applies to immigrants, in the opinion of some observers, it winds up applying to everyone. And that could lead to the equivalent of a national ID database.
“Over time, this could become a single, national, searchable database of vital biographic information and photgraphs of nearly every American,” said Senator Chris Coons, Democrat of Delaware. “I want to make sure we embed privacy protections in the system, both in how it is built and administered so that data cannot easily be stolen, and also that the information is only used for legitimate purposes.”
Homeland Security Department officials consider such fears unwarranted because E-Verify simply reaches out to other existing government computer systems, like Social Security records or passport records, to confirm a person’s identity and work eligibility. ..
Just as Social Security numbers became adopted for identification uses never intended, E-Verify, they say, would draw many unexpected uses.
“We are wary of giving the federal government this kind of centralized power over our daily lives,” Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, wrote in an opinion article in The Washington Times, opposing the plan for expanding the E-Verify system.
And here I’d been foolishly thinking that E-Verify was a good idea, and one that most of us were on board with. For starters, the ACLU absolutely hates it, so that was one mark in its favor right up front. But some of the civil libertarians out there – who I generally sympathize with – have issues with it.
I can completely understand the inherent distrust we have in the federal government having massive “lists” of any kind when it comes to citizens. Those of us who follow the Second Amendment wars are already far too familiar the idea of a national gun registry and why that’s a bad idea. In fact, the entire concept of Washington keeping lists of every American having or doing something should rightly be suspect. But a list of names and addresses? Don’t we already sort of have that with the census? (Yes, yes… I know. Census data is supposed to be locked off from any other use than establishing representation, but if you believe that I’ve got a bridge to sell you.)
Personally, I never had a problem with the idea of a national ID card being available, provided it wasn’t mandatory. If it gets you through the TSA line faster or helps establish your qualifications at the voting booth, it actually seems like a useful tool for those interested in having one. Of course, demanding that you have one just to get a job may wind up crossing some sort of line from there. I’m honestly not sure how this would play out yet. Your thoughts?
The question answers itself.
The immigration debate needs to be killed till after the next election. There is nothing to be gained by it till we retake the senate.
Absolutely I think it would. It is a logical next step. Having been a Prosecutor for 25 years, I have seen the power of a Government and really don’t think most people appreciate just how powerful a government can be. If they want you, they get you. We are forced to rely upon the gate keepers to protect us from unbridled power. Indeed, there are some good people out there who do protect us. However, you want an immensely powerful Federal Government? Then give them a database. Worst idea in the world.
In short, find another way. Don’t do this.
Straw-man argument!....the IRS already has more info on law abiding citizens than any E-verify could hope to amass..what could E-verify provide that the IRS doesn't already have?..that u applied for work??
Obama has access to evey gov’t database and actively uses the data against his idealogical/political foes. If he’s around, he will abuse it. Count on it.
The elements to such a database already exist between socialism security and our passport system. Link in state drivers licenses (which already exists see REAL ID) with the NICS reporting system, IRS records, FBI background checks, and other info from so-called private sources like credit checking data, and well, you’re pretty well pwnd, folks. Already. That said, I don’t think this is a good thing, and if we are willing to have a fight about it (and it won’t be quick or easy), it’s possible to change things. Not likely, but possible. As some have noted, phone metadata is already unprotected by the 4th Amendment by virtue of Smith v. Maryland. That needs changed. And quite a bit more.
We’ll never be able to control immigration and the visa system until we can effectively determine whether someone is legally eligible to work in the US. And since a SS# is required to work legally, making the SS# as foolproof and difficult to scam as possible is necessary to determine who is legally eligible to work.
And with a good system, the SS# alone should be an adequate control at the employer level.
If people are going to be spooked everytime attempts are made to tighten control over the use of SS#’s, then we might as well just throw in the towel and accept perpetual illegal immigration as part of living in the USA.
It will eventually contain info on DNA, I have no doubt.
I agree with everything you say.
However with what the NSA is apparently doing, this is moot unless we can undo it.
They likely have detailed profiles on everyone in the country by now. or soon will. (in my opinion).
Of course it would. The whole purpose behind the 1965 immigration act was the creation of a surveillance state.
It’s why the feds haven’t done anything about illegal immigration prior to now. They had to get people mad enough about it to accept what will likely be your police state ID.
yeah how did that e verify work out for our President? how did he get hired ?
http://obamafailedeverify.blogspot.com/
All law abiding US citizens (except a few very young) are already in the SS system data bases and most are also in the IRS data bases. It’s the illegal aliens who are not in the system, and who can still use various forms of fraud to work illegally with a valid SS#.
The main people being protected by our failure to develop a realiable e-verify system are the illegal aliens. And that’s why many of the pro-amnesty/open borders folks oppose a reliable e-verify system.
This is just silly. The company I work for has used E-verify for years. Every employee has been run through the system. Guess what. We don’t have any illegal immigrants working here. The system is free, easy (if you have internet aand who doesn’t nowadays) and doesn’t require anymore information than the current I-9 form. Mainly, the check is to see if the social security number is valid, has the correct name and is not being used by multiple associates. If the check has a problem, the individual is notified and has 8 days to contact the government and start straightening it out. No one is fired immediately for failing the system. What is wrong with that? You are not giving the government any information they do not have unless the information is false. Anyone who opposes E-verify must not want to stop employment of illegals or doesn’t understand the system. I fail to see any government intrusion.
Voter ID ping.
Control of US borders ping.
Thanks SeekAndFind.
We have on already i is called SSN#and yes they know who they belong to, don’t think that just because they are not supposed to share that info, that they don’t.
They don’t make it an issue because they don’t want to identify the illegals that are paying in on someone else’s SSN#.
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