Story perspectives

Over 1 Million Face Identity Theft from Immigrants

12/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

James Varney of RealClearInvestigations says over a million Americans may be identity theft victims due to illegal immigrants using stolen Social Security numbers for work.
The E-Verify system remains underutilized, with nine states mandating it for large employers.
The Social Security Administration reported 78,588 cases in fiscal year 2024.
Experts propose strengthening E-Verify by linking it to motor vehicle records and improving counterfeit detection to protect citizens from financial harm.

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Story summary

James Varney of RealClearInvestigations says over a million Americans may be identity theft victims due to illegal immigrants using stolen Social Security numbers for work.
The E-Verify system remains underutilized, with nine states mandating it for large employers.
The Social Security Administration reported 78,588 cases in fiscal year 2024.
Experts propose strengthening E-Verify by linking it to motor vehicle records and improving counterfeit detection to protect citizens from financial harm.