In their often desperate plea to find work in the U.S., more and more illegal immigrants are turning to counterfeit organizations to provide them with social security number or new identities. The scope of the problem became evident following a number of raids at meatpacking plants in the Midwest. On April 25 federal authorities charged 22 people with being part of one of the nation's largest operations to produce counterfeit identification documents, the New York Times reports. Catering to predominately Mexican immigrants, the crime ring with key operations in Chicago, sold false documents at a price between $200 and $300 a document. Officials estimate that this generated an approximate annual turnover of $2 – $3 million with as many as 100 customers a day.
Economic necessity is what drives the business of counterfeiter organizations like this one. Analysts have reacted by suggesting that the introduction of biometric work permits might put an end to the trade in illegal documentation and make it more difficult for migrants without legal status to be gainfully employed. Even if lawmakers opt for the biometric card it won't happen overnight, leaving criminal groups to prey on the need of illegal migrants in their quest to make a better life for themselves across the border.
