09/06/07 Social Security Mismatch

Social Security Mismatch. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. One way of dealing with the illegal immigration problem is with social security numbers. And when they don't match, a flag is raised and a letter is sent to the employer. According to Mike Gempler, Executive Director of the Washington Growers League this issue is really getting hot. GEMPLER: The federal government is taking steps to treat social security mismatch letters more seriously and use those mismatch letters as a means of determining whether or not employers are doing due diligence in examining documents and verifying documents. Gempler says that until now, the letter was pretty much just a reminder to the employer. GEMPLER: Now they've changed their policy and regulation that they wrote in 2006 and they held off on issuing during the immigration reform legislation debate, of course that comprehensive immigration reform legislation failed so the administration decided to come out with their new regulation and make it effective and really ratchet down on documents. That regulation goes into effect September 15 and Gempler says if you get a letter, you have to act. GEMPLER: Once you get a mismatch letter you have to follow up and determine whether those documents are bonafide or not. Tomorrow, more with Mike Gempler on the social security mismatch letters. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.