Afraid to go back, illegal worker still can’t advance far on job

A precious nine digits keeps Angelica from seeking her insurance agent's license.

"Because I'm an illegal, I cannot get the license because you have to have a real Social Security number."

She has an individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, issued by the Internal Revenue Service. It reads like a Social Security number but has no valid purpose except for reporting federal taxes.

Angelica, who declined to give her last name, works as a secretary for a local insurance company. She enjoys her job but wants to advance in her career.

The 31-year-old came to the area in 1998 by way of California, where she entered the country two years earlier. A cousin in Las Vegas, a legal resident who since has become a U.S. citizen, put her up for a while.

A referral from a friend led to an interview for her current job. When asked for ID, she presented her driver's license.

She doesn't recall anyone asking her if she was here legally.

In the meantime, Angelica has put down roots. She rents an apartment, owns a car and has credit cards.

"I have really good credit, I pay my taxes," she said.

Besides stalling her career plans, her lack of legal status also created a dilemma when her mother in Mexico fell ill. Angelica didn't visit her because she would have been unable to return to the United States.

She doesn't want to sneak over the border again.

"It was dangerous, with a bunch of people that you don't know in the middle of the night."

Angelica studied Spanish and English in southern Mexico, with plans to become a translator there. But the pay was barely enough to live on.

She applied for a tourist visa to the United States but was turned down because she didn't have enough money.

"I don't think there is a way to come here legally" for people in those circumstances, she said.

"The only thing that I would like to be happening for every illegal person is a chance to prove that we are here to work, to do better. And with a Social Security number, we can have a better opportunity."