Immigration Law

"No-match" Decision Will Not Be Rushed

By John Combs

The federal court hearing the matter in San Francisco has denied a government request to quickly issue a final decision on whether the Bush Administration may implement its new Social Security Administration (SSA) "No-match" rules.  The lawsuit brought by labor unions and employers seeking to block the rule will move forward under a standard schedule, and a decision will not come until late February or March of 2009.  This ruling will give the Obama Administration an opportunity to consider whether this is a practical and cost-effective program to pursue.
 
Immigrant, business, and labor advocates have argued the new attempts to use the "No-match" program--an SSA program used to help U.S. workers track earnings and receive benefits--as an immigration enforcement tool, is a purpose for which the program is ill equipped.  Implementation of the new rule could also have an adverse impact on the economy.  The "No-match" rule could result in as many as 165,000 U.S. citizens and legal workers losing their jobs and could cost employers over $1 billion per year according to an April 2008 study commissioned by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Full post as published by Immigration Law for Employers on December 08, 2008 (boomark / email).