Yesterday morning I read an
AP story, "Senate Votes to Double Employer Fines for Illegal Immigrants," which included this:
Employers who don't use the new computerized system could be fined $200 to $600. The system would include information from the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service and Homeland Security Department.
"What 'new computerized system?'" I asked myself. The article didn't explain, so I tried to find out for myself. The new system, it turns out, is the Employment Eligibility Verification System, which is intended, in part, to "respond to all inquiries ... on whether individuals are authorized to be employed and to register all times when such inquiries are not received."
At which point I asked myself, "Am I overreating, or have the neocons moved one step closer to their Big Brother dream of tracking and storing every move we make?"
More below the fold.
The Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) arises from an amendment to S. 2611, the immigration bill being debated in the Senate. The amendment, S. Amdt. 4177 (
Roll Call No. 00140), provides, in part:
(E) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY.--As part of the verification system, the Commissioner of Social Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security (and any designee of the Secretary selected to establish and administer the verification system), shall establish a reliable, secure method, which, within the time periods specified under subparagraphs (B) and (C), compares the name and social security account number provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by the Commissioner in order to validate (or not validate) the information provided regarding an individual whose identity and employment eligibility must be confirmed, the correspondence of the name and number, and whether the individual has presented a social security account number that is not valid for employment. The Commissioner shall not disclose or release social security information (other than such verification or nonverification) except as provided for in this section or section 205(c)(2)(I) of the Social Security Act.
(F) RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY.--(i) As part of the verification system, the Secretary of Homeland Security (in consultation with any designee of the Secretary selected to establish and administer the verification system), shall establish a reliable, secure method, which, within the time periods specified under subparagraphs (B) and (C), compares the name and alien identification or authorization number which are provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by the Secretary in order to validate (or not validate) the information provided, the correspondence of the name and number, and whether the alien is authorized to be employed in the United States.
How could this system possibly work unless all of us are in the database? The way I read it, every potential new hire must be run through the EEVS so that the employer can document, as it must, that the verification was obtained. In other words, the EEVS casts a big net, i.e., everyone, in order to catch the people who aren't legally permitted to work here.
What can the information be used for?
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this subsection shall be construed to permit or allow any department, bureau, or other agency of the United States Government to utilize any information, database, or other records assembled under this subsection for any purpose other than the enforcement and administration of the immigration laws, the Social Security Act, or any provision of Federal criminal law
Ah yes, "or any provision of Federal criminal law." That's the language that lets the information in this database be pulled away from its intended purpose and into the hands of other sectors of the federal government.
As the title of this diary indicates, I could be overreacting. But we've already seen the lengths this administration, with the blessing of Congress, will go to in order to compile as much information on us as possible. It could be another small step in the giant leap toward Total Information Awareness.