A new system to detect and report potential illegal immigrants is up and running, but only a handful of cities and counties in Northwest Georgia will be able to use it.
All state and local entities that administer public benefits — such as business licenses, food stamps and unemployment insurance — are required to check an applicant’s immigration status through the use of the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement, or SAVE, system. But only about 30 percent of cities and counties in the state are signed up to use it, records show.
State law says agencies and governments that administer public benefits must verify applicants’ legal status. Applicants are asked to sign an affidavit saying whether they are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, or are in the United States legally under some type of visa.
If the applicant indicates that he or she is not a U.S. citizen nor a legal permanent resident, officials must run his information through the SAVE program.
By Jan. 1, 2011, all agencies and governments must report the type of public benefits administered and compile a list of all benefits given that weren’t verified through SAVE, said Michael Bush, director of the Office of Research in the Department of Community Affairs, who created the reporting system.
The department last week began sending e-mails advising state and local governments and agencies about the new reporting system, Bush said.
There is no data available on the number of illegal immigrants who had access to benefits for which they didn’t qualify.
Summerville, Ga., City Clerk Jill Durham said she has been giving out affidavits for those who want to renew their business licenses. So far, Durham said, all affidavits returned have been marked as a U.S. citizen applicant.
Perla Trevizo joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2007 and covers immigration/diversity issues and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in newswire journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, Spain, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas. She was selected as an International Reporting Fellow by the International Center for Journalists and in 2009 received an honorable mention for her story “Families Broken Apart” from the Tennessee ...
"Applicants are asked to sign an affidavit saying whether they are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, or are in the United States legally under some type of visa."
"If the applicant indicates that he or she is not a U.S. citizen nor a legal permanent resident, officials must run his information through the SAVE program."
I can't think of a single viable business that operates like our government - it wouldn't be possible.
Basically what this is saying is, that people with a very high probablility of being here illegally, are being put on the honor system - they(people handing out our hard earned money) take their word for it - no proof is neccessary(it's not their money).
It would be equivalent to going to a bank to withdraw money without having to prove who you are - just tell them that you have an account, and they give you as much money as you want. It is insane.
It should be obvious to everyone that this is by design. It is a way for businesses to shift their cost onto the backs of middle class taxpayers - a redistribution of wealth.
Our government has not been this corrupt in the history of our country. If voters do not clean house, they may not have another chance.
Why bother using the "tools"? The feds refuse to deport anyone so those tools are a total waste of time.
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