news.yahoo.com
WASHINGTON -- TREA Senior Citizens League filed two Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits in U.S. District Court this morning after numerous refusals over three years by the U.S. Department of State and Social Security Administration to provide a draft of, or virtually any pertinent information regarding, the impact of the Totalization Agreement with Mexico on the U.S.
Social Security Trust Fund.
The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund. The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico was signed in June 2004, and is awaiting
President Bush's signature. Many critics believe he intends to sign it shortly after the 2006 midterm elections.
Once President Bush approves the agreement, which would be done without congressional vote, either house would have 60 days to disapprove the agreement by voting to reject it.
Under the Totalization Agreement, millions of illegal Mexicans working in the United States today could claim benefits from the Social Security Trust Fund for work performed while in the United States illegally. They could do so through immigration amnesty, through which they could claim past Social Security payments for illegal work. They could also potentially return to Mexico and claim credits for illegal work in the United States.
"We are outraged that our government won't tell us how much they plan to take out of the Social Security Trust Fund to pay for the Totalization Agreement with Mexico, and we want to know what they're hiding," said Ralph McCutchen, chairman of the TREA Senior Citizens League.
Posted by Richard at June 29, 2006