WASHINGTON, DC - Heading into the 2012 legislative session, lawmakers are proposing to raise taxes on hardworking, low-income Latino families to pay for an extension of the payroll tax cut. Rather than asking the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share in taxes, legislators are proposing cutting off access to the Child Tax Credit for taxpayers who use Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITIN).

NCLR (National Council of La Raza) estimates that more than four million Latino children and their families could lose out on this valuable tax credit if current proposals pass, pushing them further into poverty.

“We are outraged that this proposal is even on the table,” said Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Latino voters are paying close attention to how policymakers treat our community. Given that one out of every four Latino children would face greater hunger and poverty as a result of this proposal, it is hard to see it as anything less than an attack on our children. Congress should pass a fair tax package that maintains access to the Child Tax Credit for vulnerable families.”
ITINs are commonly used by immigrants who lack a Social Security number so that they can pay their share of income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes. In 2012, ITIN tax filers paid more than $9 billion in payroll taxes to support Social Security and Medicare.

Murguía was joined on a call earlier today by Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, as well as representatives from National Immigration Law Center (NILC), First Focus, and CASA de Maryland, who echoed opposition to restrictions to the Child Tax Credit.

“The House proposal is a direct attack on our nation’s children,” said Wendy Cervantes, Vice President of Immigration and Child Rights at First ...