Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has lashed out at Republicans because the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill does not include direct payments to taxpayers without a Social Security number, including people living in the U.S. illegally.
‘To clarify, $1200 checks are ONLY going to some w/social sec numbers, NOT immigrants w/ tax IDs (ITINs),’ the freshman Democrat from New York wrote in a tweet on Thursday.
‘Thanks to GOP, these checks will be cut off the backs of *taxpaying immigrants,* who get nothing. Many are essential workers who pay more taxes than Amazon,’ she continued.
The Internal Revenue Service issues ITINs to taxpayers who are ineligible for a Social Security number, mostly – though not exclusively – because they are present in the country illegally.
U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents, and those with an immigrant work visa are all eligible for Social Security numbers for tax purposes.