If the U. S. is in an uproar about undocumented workers (some use the phrase illegal aliens-but I will not), look to your own home town employers for the reason!
In order to hire ANYONE the EMPLOYER must have two forms of ID and they have to fill out and keep an I-9 form in their files. Yes, it is possible for someone to get a fake ID, but if these employers make a quarterly report and pay FICA and withholding taxes to the IRS, that fake ID will be kicked back to that employer as a "no name-no match". This causes the main IRS computer to have what my grandmother used to call a hissy fit.. It's now even possible to verify a worker's eligibility through the Immigration Department (now I.C.E-Immigration and Customs Enforcement) by using their ONLINE E-verify system.
So, why do employers STILL hire undocumented workers? Well, obviously they can pay less than minimum wage. But to my mind, the more important reason is to keep from having to MATCH the 7.65% taken from the employees wages to pay into Medicare (1.45%) and Social Security (6.20%). If I were lucky enough to have an employer who was paying me $1,000 a week, $76.50 would be taken out of my paycheck to pay for Social Security and Medicare and MY EMPLOYER WOULD ALSO HAVE TO PAY THAT SAME AMOUNT OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET. How 'bout them Cowboys?
Crack down on the employers! For example, if the IRS sees numerous 1099s being issued by one person, it could be that they hire what is called "contract labor". If this "contract laborer" receives a 1099 earning statement that might indicate a lengthy employment with one company, that company should be putting these people on the books, and paying the appropriate taxes.
Do you want to help shore up the Social Security Program? Do you want to make sure Medicare is funded? These laws already exist. We need to find a way to hold our employers accountable under these laws.