DESERET MORNING NEWS (Salt Lake) January 28, 2007Agency sharing called key to ID theft, migrant woes By Suzanne Struglinski and Deborah Bulkeley
Deseret Morning News Congress needs to break down barriers between federal agencies to help combat identity theft and illegal immigration, U.S. senators say.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke Monday with senators from the six states, including Utah, where immigration raids took place last month at Swift & Co. meat packing plants.
The raids stemmed from identity theft reports, particularly Social Security numbers and names not matching the employees actually using them.
Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo., said there is "not enough sharing among agencies."
Allard said right now if someone's Social Security number is being used in two different places, there is nothing in place to detect it or report it.
Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., said there needs to be a better way to cooperate among the agencies to know if a number is being in once place or another.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said "these barriers need to fall."
In Utah, Sen. Carlene Walker, R-Cottonwood Heights, is sponsoring SCR1, a resolution urging federal action on identity theft. The measure has been approved by the Utah Senate and is now pending before the House.
"I'm thrilled that's happening, or at least a discussion is going on," Walker said. "There is just no question about it. The federal government has got to do something about this."
Walker says a lack of information sharing relates directly to another bill she's sponsoring, SB15, to allow the Department of Workforce Services to let clients know if their identity is stolen.
"They have verification and information as to who's using (a Social Security number) and how, but they're not at liberty to share that information," she said. "We're trying to lessen any consequences for those caseworkers, so they might be able to at least give someone a heads up."
Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, was in Utah speaking to the Legislature so he did not attend the meeting. Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, did not attend but sent a staff member to listen in on the discussion, according to his office.
Most of the 1,297 workers arrested nationwide last month face administrative charges. However, 137 face federal criminal charges and 82 face state criminal charges, said ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley.
Of those not facing criminal charges, 450 have been removed from the United States and 120 of those still in immigration proceedings have been released for humanitarian reasons, Haley said. The remaining 508 are likely still in immigration proceedings, she said, though it's unclear whether any have been released on bond or have had charges dismissed.
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