RMV needs help to tackle fraud
The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is not just a clearinghouse for long lines and bad days, it is now a nationally known hub where illegal immigrants plug-in to receive taxpayer-funded benefits.
When U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions came to Boston this week, he was armed to the teeth with example after example of fraud perpetuated upon the U.S. government and the taxpayers.
As reported by the Herald’s Laurel Sweet and Brooks Sutherland, “Operation Double Trouble” accounted for $200,000 in heisted Medicare, unemployment and public housing benefits. One of the suspects, the feds said, is a convicted killer who escaped from prison in Puerto Rico.
“Across this city and across America, teachers, truck drivers, construction workers are going to work and paying taxes that are being stolen from the public treasury by fraudsters and criminals,” Sessions said at a press conference held at the Seaport offices of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling.
“These government programs are intended to help the poor, the elderly, American citizens — not those that are trespassing in the country,” he added. “This kind of fraud is a theft from our seniors, a theft from our taxpayers, and a theft from the needy — theft from America.”
We applaud Attorney General Sessions for putting a spotlight on this problem and for his resolve in combatting it.
More resources should be allocated to the RMV to better enable it to dissect data it already has to determine the validity of those who have applied for and/ or been issued driver’s licenses.
Though Gov. Charlie Baker has taken steps to tackle this issue head-on, more must be done. Up-armoring the RMV against such fraud has been a step in the right direction, but the Registry must work more closely with law enforcement in channeling offenders to justice.
It is crucial that our governor lead the way in advocacy for law-abiding citizens as so many other elected officials have opted to represent the interests of illegal immigrants over their own constituents.