Selling insurance to illegal immigrants

pita3333 · Post by **pita3333** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 2:19 pm

Another intersting topic...the issue of knowingly insuring an illegal is difficult. What the issue really is .... how do you know you are insuring one? Would mean that you would have to do some sort of investigation...which then brings up more backroom work for us all. Also brings up the discrimination issue...when you decided not to insure due to illegal how did you arrive at the decision? Gut feelings? What if you are/were wrong...

Auto insurance is easy...illegals do not have licenses (at least here in CA)...but property, liability and the rest are not.

independent guy · Post by **independent guy** » Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:39 pm

pita3333 wrote: Auto insurance is easy...illegals do not have licenses (at least here in CA)...but property, liability and the rest are not.

We have companies that will write someone with a Mexican license. Its no more difficult than writing someone US licensed. Actually its easier for me in IL to write someone with a Mexican license than it is a California license, because I can't order the CA MVRs immediately. The company I do this through is Progressive. I don't think they order the Mexican MVRs either, but just set their rate at an appropriate level for that risk.

MFM · Post by **MFM** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:57 pm

1. All insurers are obligated by the U.S. Treasury's OFAC to ensure that applicants are not on the SDN list. It is not ethical to claim that an agent has no idea if someone is in the country legally or ILLEGALLY or not when insurers are legally required to gather sufficient information to run the individual through the OFAC lists.

2. This is not a matter of discrimination about immigration. The question is not even about immigrants or immigration, it is about being in the country ILLEGALLY . Even the term "illegal immigrants" is a euphemism. If someone broke into your house, would you call them an "illegal guest?" No, you would call them a burglar, just as these people should not be called immigrants, but squatters who are here ILLEGALLY.

3. Selling insurance to someone who is not here legally by stating it is not an insurer's place to enforce immigration laws is not the answer. Of course this is not an insurer's place. However, OFAC regulations are very broad and do not make exemptions for insurers. You have to wonder about the ethical position of agents and insurers that specifically want to sell insurance to people who BROKE THE LAW to get in this country.

independent guy · Post by **independent guy** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:19 pm

MFM wrote:You have to wonder about the ethical position of agents and insurers that specifically want to sell insurance to people who BROKE THE LAW to get in this country.

So you refuse to sell auto liability insurance to an illegal... And they crash into someone down the street from your office... The victim would be SOL, because there would be no liability insurance to cover them.

Also, what about all the insurance we write on people with tickets, DUIs, etc. They're breaking the law as well, should we not write them as well?

MFM · Post by **MFM** » Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:25 pm

The issue is not their driving record but that they knowingly violated national security to get here. They stowed away, they crossed the river, etc. If they want to live here, then follow the laws - that is all this is about.