WASHINGTON —Republicans are looking to deny child tax credits to illegal immigrants — refund checks averaging $1,800 a family. The effort has roused anger among Latinos and some Democratic lawmakers.
The plan would require people who claim the credit to have Social Security numbers to prove they’re legal workers. It’s being offered as a way to help fund extending the Social Security tax cut for most wage-earners. It would trim spending by about $10 billion over a decade.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the proposal unfairly goes after the children of poor Latino workers. Such kids often were born in this country and are citizens, even if the parents aren’t.
Leticia Miranda, senior policy adviser of the National Council of La Raza, said: “People who are making close to the minimum wage and are raising children in this country — and we’re asking them to pay for the payroll tax cut? … It’s
outrageous, and it’s crazy.”
Republicans and some Democrats say it’s crazy to debate over cutting checks to people who are in the country illegally. It’s hard to imagine there isn’t a healthy majority to stop the practice, if there’s a vote.
“We have rules about tax credits and benefits, and it seems to me they need to be applied fairly and across the board,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is facing a difficult re-election bid.
