NEW YORK (TIP): Yesterday, it was revealed that the Trump administration is pushing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to require taxpayers to disclose their immigration status or risk being pushed out of the country’s tax filing system altogether. The proposed changes would directly affect undocumented immigrants who use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), a nine-digit number issued to people who are not eligible for a Social Security number but still file and pay taxes in the United States.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition stated:
“Every New Yorker deserves to feel safe contributing to their economy and trust that paying taxes will not place them or their families at risk. The Trump administration’s latest effort to use the IRS to force the disclosure the immigration status of taxpayers is a dangerous attempt to weaponize the tax system. The proposed changes would undermine the trust of public institutions and push hundreds of thousands of New York taxpayers further into the shadows. Undocumented New Yorkers contribute $6.7 billion in local, state, and federal taxes annually, while immigrants with status contribute $74.8 billion. Instead of punishing people who fund our schools and comply with our tax laws, the federal government should be working to protect their rights and ensure that all communities can safely participate in our economy. We call on the federal government to stop targeting immigrant communities and on Congress to uphold taxpayer privacy protections for everyone in the United States.”
The New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
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