Nuclear agency chided over allowing contractors to hire illegal aliens

Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., Thursday slammed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for allowing illegal aliens who obtained documentation by using fake Social Security numbers to work as contract painters at nuclear facilities.

"Commission regulations are supposed to ensure that the individuals who are able to access nuclear facilities are subject to appropriate background and security checks, but they clearly did not work in this case," Markey, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement.

In a letter to the commission, he called on the NRC to provide information about its investigation into the issue and details on its documentation and verification requirements.

An NRC spokesman said the agency regards the breach "as a serious matter."

Even before Markey sent his letter, the NRC notified plants around the country to be on alert for illegal aliens employed by contractors, the spokesman said.