King tells Bush – Looking for employers who hire illegals? Start with government agencies

Rep. Steve King (R-IA), the ranking member of House Judiciary’s immigration subcommittee, knows where the Bush administration should start in the search for employers who hire illegal aliens. That's in federal agencies, King said, because they employ thousands of unauthorized workers.

"Let's clean up our own house, let's especially clean up all those working for the federal government," King said.

A 2006 audit showed that federal, state and local governments are among the biggest employers of the half-million employees in the U.S. illegally using obsolete "non-work" Social Security numbers — numbers that were issued legally, but with specific instructions that the holders are not authorized to work in the U.S.

According to the 2006 audit by the Social Security inspector general, 17 of the 100 worst employers using employees with the obsolete non-work numbers were government agencies: seven federal agencies, seven state agencies and three local governments. The government knows who the employees are, but usually does not pursue them.

King said the administration shouldn't wait for new rules to begin checking federal employees against the non-work list, but should set an an example for employers around the nation.