Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Creating a haven

When I first read this, it didn't seem that strange.
Jaime Martinez, Board Chair for the Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation is asking city leaders to make San Antonio a "safe haven" for undocumented workers and their families. Martinez is calling for immigration reform on labor rights, reunification of the family, and giving illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship.

"Close to 6 billion dollars a year is collected from these workers who do not have matching social security numbers," said Martinez in a press conference Tuesday. "We want the politicians to check the social security administration suspense files," explained Martinez. "[They're] going to be alarmed, that [illegal immigrants] do pay their fair share to America."
(from KSAT-12)

Sadly, cities that make life easier for illegal immigrants are not unusual, and it's not so surprising to see a push for this status in heavily Hispanic, largely Democrat San Antonio.

But what caught my eye is this passage:
Also attending the press conference was a representative from United Food and Commercial Workers, a worker's union that stands for achieving the American dream.

...

"What about all their benefits?" asked [UFCW representative Tony] Reyes. "Their 401Ks, and their vacations?"
Huh?

401ks?

I am not an accountant, but retirement plans like that are complex. How can anyone with a fake Social Security number get a 401k? Is it really possible?

And vacations? If someone is truly facing the difficult possibility of being deported to a land they fled in the first place because it was such a crappy place to live, do you really think they are going to worrying about whether or not they lose a few unused vacation days?

I think not. I think they will be worrying about life first.

3 comments:

Sabra said...

How do they get 401(k)s with falsified information? With falsified information. Identity theft FTW! From WOAI's coverage of the Lone Star Bakery story today, I'm wondering how many of the illegals fired are now going to get unemployment payments.

Dave said...

Also attending the press conference was a representative from United Food and Commercial Workers, a worker's union that stands for achieving the American dream.

Yea. And how can they pay union dues if they they can't work?

John JP Patterson said...

Hmmm... San Antonio already has numerous dubious honors: the Highest Teen Pregnancy Rate, the Fattest, the Dumbest, the Lowest Pay Scale... why not add Safe Haven or Sanctuary City to the list? Homeowners will gladly pay increased property taxes to cover Free Health Care, Free Housing, Free Food and Free Clothing for illegal immigrants... plus, Free Public School Education for their children, too!