Undocumented workers collected $4.2 billion – IRS

Child tax credits appear to 'provide incentive'
for illegal immigration of the undocumented

Washington – Top treasury officials say child tax benefits provide an incentive for undocumented alien workers to enter the U.S. illegally.

According to a report filed on Thursday, September 1 by the the Inspector General for Tax Administration, the IRS paid out $4.2 billion in refundable tax credits to illegal workers in 2010.

The calculation is based on a count of individual taxpayer identification numbers used by many undocumented workers who have no legitimate Social Security numbers. Seventy-two percent of tax returns filed under Tax ID numbers claimed child tax credits.

“The payment of federal funds through this tax benefit appears to provide an additional incentive for aliens to enter, reside and work in the United States without authorization, which contradicts federal law and policy,” the report concluded.