New state audit and immigration

A new report by the State Auditor’s office offers another indication that the state is going to step up its review of Social Security information, looking for people who have used SSI numbers that aren’t theirs to gain employment. Link to summary page for NCCU Strategic Audit Review. Report (pdf)
The report cites North Carolina Central University for not following up with employees about SSI numbers after they came up as incorrect. In 2002, I wrote a series of stories on the effects of tighter no-match notification requirements that were passed after 9-11. While those stories concentrated on private employers getting more no-match letters, it was pretty apparent that the state—through private contractors and in its own facilities—would likely see an increase in no-match letters as well. If the state goes after its food service vendors, construction crews and increases checks on employees and temps, it could have a significant impact. It’ll depend on how aggressive the requirements are. While many of these problems are clerical errors, there’s no doubt a sizable percentage of workers in some areas will likely be unable to “clear up” the discrepancy.

Judging from the report. It looks like it took some serious legwork to find the problems listed at Central, so we’ll see how much the state is willing to spend on the program. That said, a wholesale sweep of the university system would have intense social and economic consequences. The immigration system is without a doubt a broken system. Those using that fact for demagoguery would like nothing more than to force a crisis. If we start seeing a series of these kinds of audit actions, we’ll know that as of today that’s where we’re headed.