(NETWORK IN) About $7 billion a year of your tax money could be saved by eliminating tax credits for illegal immigrants, says Rep. Luke Messer (R-Ind.). He says he believes it should be part of Pres. Trump’s tax plan, announced last week.
“We can’t continue to reward people who come to our country illegally, while those who work hard and play by the rules struggle to get ahead,” said Messer, speaking on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday, urging support for his proposal, which was included in President Trump’s budget request to Congress.
“My legislation would stop billions of taxpayer dollars from going to illegal immigrants by eliminating a loophole in our tax code. This money should be used to increase the Child Tax Credit for law-abiding, American families.”
He said as the law stands now, illegal immigrants can claim the Child Tax Credit without a Social Security number by using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), which is issued to individuals regardless of immigration status.
Messer’s proposal, H.R. 2817, would ensure that only taxpayers with a Social Security Number that is valid for work can claim the Child Tax Credit.
