Senate votes Social Security for illegals

Published: May 19, 2006 at 10:20 AM

WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Illegal aliens could collect Social Security benefits based on past illegal employment if a U.S. Senate bill passed Thursday becomes law.

That would be the case even if the job was obtained through forged or stolen documents, The Washington Times said,

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., calling it an act of amnesty, tried to strip the Social Security provision from the immigration reform bill but narrowly lost 50-49.

"We all know that millions of undocumented immigrants pay Social Security and Medicare taxes for years and sometimes decades while they work to contribute to our economy," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

The Senate also reversed an earlier stand by voting to allow foreign workers to apply for permanent residency without having a job lined up.

Topics: John Ensign

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Senate votes Social Security for illegals