Hacker News Reader

Documented immigrants will get a ITIN and/or EIN.

Undocumented immigrants are far more likely to go the... undocumented route.

Undocumented immigrants can get an ITIN, and many do. A lot of the time the ITIN will be used where it's allowed (opening bank accounts) and a counterfeit social security card where it's not (applying for employment).

Wouldn't that, by definition, turn them from undocumented to documented?

I guess in a pedantic manner, but then they were always documented, since their country of origin knew who they are.

In terms of immigration, undocumented typically means you don't currently have a valid visa or residency permit. In that case no, they would still be undocumented, since the ITIN doesn't grant them either.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com