Donald Tripp
Lambertville
A recent letter in The Beacon suggested that if the alleged “12 million illegals” here in the United States paid “social security and other withholding taxes: It might just get us out of the red!” It just so happens to be a fact that “illegals” do have social security taxes withheld from their pay, just like the rest of us.
The Social Security Administration has what it calls an “earnings suspense file” to track the amount of wages that are taxed for collection, but not credited to a specific worker. For the record, “illegals” are not entitled to benefits hence they do not have a social security number. Yet their employers are required by law to withhold taxes from their pay.
SSA officials have said the fund takes in as much as $7 billion a year. (That’s right $7 billion a year from people who will not receive any social security benefits!) Does this sound fair? That money is used to pay out benefits, effectively subsidizing US beneficiaries with the taxes paid by” illegals.”
Most everyone has an opinion on illegal immigrants. And it’s good we have a forum to express and exchange our opinions. However, let’s all try to do some research and base our arguments on facts.

