Fact Check: "Most illegal aliens steal identities of Americans to get jobs."
What We Know
The claim that "most illegal aliens steal identities of Americans to get jobs" suggests a significant relationship between illegal immigration and identity theft. According to a GAO report, identity theft is a growing concern, particularly among illegal aliens who use fraudulent documents to obtain employment. The report indicates that the use of fraudulent documents, including Social Security numbers, is extensive among aliens attempting to enter the U.S. illegally for work-related purposes.
Furthermore, a 2019 announcement from the U.S. Attorney's Office detailed the prosecution of 119 illegal aliens for various crimes, including the misuse of Social Security numbers belonging to American citizens. Of those prosecuted, 26 admitted to using stolen identities to obtain employment, highlighting that identity theft is indeed a method employed by some illegal aliens to secure jobs.
Additionally, a 2018 Treasury Inspector General report documented over 1.3 million cases of employment-related identity theft, with a significant number of these cases involving illegal immigrants using stolen Social Security numbers.
Analysis
The evidence suggests that while identity theft is a method used by some illegal aliens to gain employment, it does not necessarily imply that "most" illegal aliens engage in this behavior. The GAO report indicates that identity theft is a component of various financial crimes and is not exclusively linked to illegal immigration. The prevalence of identity theft is difficult to quantify accurately, as many victims may not report the crime, and estimates vary widely.
The reliability of the sources is mixed. The GAO report is a government document that provides a comprehensive overview of identity theft and its implications, making it a credible source. The U.S. Attorney's announcement also provides specific case data, which adds to its reliability. However, reports from sources like RealClearInvestigations may carry a bias, as they often present information in a way that supports a particular narrative regarding immigration and crime.
Moreover, while the statistics indicate that identity theft is a concern within the illegal immigrant population, they do not provide a definitive percentage or proportion that would support the claim that "most" illegal aliens engage in identity theft. The term "most" implies a majority, which is not substantiated by the available data.
Conclusion
The claim that "most illegal aliens steal identities of Americans to get jobs" is Partially True. While there is evidence that some illegal aliens do engage in identity theft to secure employment, the assertion that this applies to the majority is not supported by comprehensive data. The complexity of identity theft and its prevalence among various demographics, including illegal immigrants, suggests that while it is a significant issue, it does not represent the actions of most individuals in that group.
Sources
- ICE worksite enforcement operation uncovers widespread identity theft affecting more
- Prevalence and Links to Alien Illegal Activities
- Identity and Benefit Fraud
- 119 Illegal Aliens Prosecuted For Stealing Identities of Americans, Falsifying Immigration Documents, Fraudulently Claiming to be U.S. Citizens, Other Crimes
- Document Fraud in Employment Authorization: How an E-
- Identity Theft and the Climate of Immigration
- Illegal Alien Theft & ID Fraud
- Identity Loans and Identity Theft: Illegal Immigrants in a Regulated Labor Market
