E-Verify
Position
No one will benefit more than employers from an immigration overhaul that restores the rule of the law in the workplace. The overwhelming majority of employers want to be on the right side of the law - it's their obligation as citizens, and it makes good business sense. ImmigrationWorks strongly supports effective workplace enforcement as a centerpiece of comprehensive immigration reform.
Employers need the federal government to provide them with the means to verify employees' identities and work authorization by comparing workers' identity documents with information in federal databases - either an improved E-Verify system or a similar program that achieves the same end.
The program must be timely, efficient and accurate. It should be phased in on a realistic timetable and as part of a broader reform package that provides employers with a legal supply of the foreign workers they need to sustain and grow their businesses.
E-Verify has the makings of such a system, but it needs improvement. Before the federal government considers mandating it for all employers, DHS must improve the program’s tentative non-confirmation error rates, reduce delays and improve procedures for secondary screening. In the meantime, Congress should continue to reauthorize E-Verify on a voluntary basis.
ImmigrationWorks opposes efforts by state and local governments to mandate E-Verify in their jurisdictions. The inevitable result - a conflicting patchwork of local laws - is confusing for employers and immigrants, impedes commerce and may be unconstitutional.
RESOURCES
Institute for the Study of International Migration, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, "Worksite Solutions To Unauthorized Immigration," October 2007.
U.S. Government Accountability Office, "Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System," June 2008.
Immigration Policy Center, "Deciphering The Numbers On E-Verify's Accuracy," February 2009.
Migration Policy Institute, "Eligible To Work? Experiments In Verifying Work Authorization," November 2005.
National Immigration Law Center, "Facts About Basic Pilot/E-Verify," October 2008.
Other Resources
E-Verify Bookshelf
Employers need the federal government to provide them with the means to verify employees' identities and work authorization by comparing workers' identity documents with information in federal databases - either an improved E-Verify system or a similar program that achieves the same end.
The program must be timely, efficient and accurate. It should be phased in on a realistic timetable and as part of a broader reform package that provides employers with a legal supply of the foreign workers they need to sustain and grow their businesses.
E-Verify has the makings of such a system, but it needs improvement. Before the federal government considers mandating it for all employers, DHS must improve the program’s tentative non-confirmation error rates, reduce delays and improve procedures for secondary screening. In the meantime, Congress should continue to reauthorize E-Verify on a voluntary basis.
ImmigrationWorks opposes efforts by state and local governments to mandate E-Verify in their jurisdictions. The inevitable result - a conflicting patchwork of local laws - is confusing for employers and immigrants, impedes commerce and may be unconstitutional.
RESOURCES
Institute for the Study of International Migration, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, "Worksite Solutions To Unauthorized Immigration," October 2007.
U.S. Government Accountability Office, "Employment Verification: Challenges Exist in Implementing a Mandatory Electronic Employment Verification System," June 2008.
Immigration Policy Center, "Deciphering The Numbers On E-Verify's Accuracy," February 2009.
Migration Policy Institute, "Eligible To Work? Experiments In Verifying Work Authorization," November 2005.
National Immigration Law Center, "Facts About Basic Pilot/E-Verify," October 2008.
Other Resources
E-Verify Bookshelf
News
-
Neb. city votes to restrict illegal immigration
Jun 22, 2010 — Associated Press Online
Opponents said it could fuel discrimination. Linda Nafziger said she voted for the ordinance because she doesn't think the community should be supporting illegal immigrants. Hazleton, Pa., passed an ordinance in 2006 to fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and deny permits to businesses hiring them. The Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch also has tried for years to enforce a ban on landlords renting to illegal immigrants. -
Immigration Policy A Gop Weak Spot
Apr 21, 2010 — Politico
John McCain, whose policies have sounded increasingly anti-immigrant during this campaign. Now, the GOP’s Latino support is down to one-quarter of its votes.Similarly, 2006 GOP candidates who supported anti-immigrant initiatives — like former Texas Rep. Recent polling shows that, nationally, only 10 percent of Latinos identify as Republicans. -
Arizona has rarely invoked its last tough immigration law
Apr 18, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
Proponents of Arizona's tough laws against illegal immigrants say the lack of prosecutions is a sign of the law's success in deterring border crossers. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and former County Atty. In Santa Cruz County, Silva said he doesn't think businesses are getting away with employing illegal immigrants. -
Hiring illegal immigrants may lead to jail in Utah
Feb 26, 2010 — Associated Press Online
...penalties. In Mississippi, employers who hire illegal immigrants can lose their business license, but illegal immigrants found working there are eligible for a one-year prison sentence. Under the Utah bill, employers who fail to comply could face a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Bill supporters said enacting the measure would stop identity theft and encourage illegal immigrants to leave Utah. "It's not a total panacea,... -
Lancaster requires businesses to verify new hires' eligibility to work
Dec 30, 2009 — Los Angeles Times
By adopting the E-Verify program, businesses in Lancaster will join a growing number of companies nationwide that use federal data to confirm the eligibility of potential new hires. According to the Department of Homeland Security, more than 175,000 employers are enrolled in the program, which is compulsory for companies that contract with the federal government. Although some states, among them Arizona, have mandated the use of E-Verify, the program is voluntary in California. -
Lancaster requires businesses to do immigration checks on new hires
Dec 29, 2009 — Los Angeles Times
By adopting the E-Verify program, businesses in Lancaster will join a growing number of companies nationwide that use federal data to confirm the eligibility of potential new hires. But supporters believe the increased scrutiny of potential new hires could help diminish the presence of illegal immigrants in the workforce. Companies that do not comply with Lancaster’s ordinance requiring the use of E-Verify risk having their business license revoked, officials said. -
Gov't rewarding firms checking immigrant status
Nov 19, 2009 — Associated Press Online
The problem is, the program known as E-Verify is still under development, and the law does not require employers to use it. The program also cannot determine if someone is using bogus documents. Congress gave DHS $137 million to run E-Verify and authorized it to operate for another three years. Chris Rhatigan, a spokeswoman for DHS' U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said that will allow the system to make checks on 65 million employees. -
Lee Hockstader: Sane Immigration Reform on Tap?
Sep 13, 2009 — Washington Post
But the recession, coupled with tougher enforcement, has slowed the flow of Mexicans, by far the largest chunk of undocumented immigrants, who cross into this country. If Republicans hope to reverse what could be a generational shift of Hispanic voters to the Democrats, they won't get there by bashing whatever immigration reform legislation emerges in the Senate. Moderates, at least, will have to rebrand themselves, and immigration reform is a perfect opportunity. -
Feds to start immigration crackdown on contractors
Sep 8, 2009 — Associated Press Online
Contractors have the option of checking their entire work force, once they notify the government of their intent to do so. -
A Detention Mess
Aug 23, 2009 — Washington Post
The system, which houses five times the number of detainees it did in the early 1990s, is riddled with violations of the federal government's own standards for detention. Recognizing that the problems with the status quo are serious, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency that oversees the detention system, recently announced an overhaul. In the meantime, we worry that the detention system overhaul, while welcome, does not go far enough to prevent abuses.
Get involved in the issues that affect our companies and quickly
contact your elected officials. When there is a legislative alert,
we will post it here.
-
A window for immigration reform
Sep 8, 2010 — Los Angeles Times -
Immigration Crackdown Steps Into the Kitchen
Sep 8, 2010 — New York Times -
Latino Republican walking a tightrope in Nevada race
Sep 8, 2010 — Los Angeles Times
