In the first half of 2011, numerous state legislatures, the U.S. Supreme Court, Congress, and, most recently, SHRM, have been vocal regarding employer’s obligations to verify immigration status.
In early 2010, I began a “beta test” on the new E-Verify system at my employer in Minnesota. Although it was not yet mandatory, we had heard rumors that the Feds could push in that direction. E-Verify also promised a more accurate and immediate response to work authorization inquiries over the traditional I-9 (doesn’t take much).
But how accurate is it really?
In January 2010, a study commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security, and conducted by research firm Westat, found that approximately half (54%) of unauthorized workers run through E-Verify receive an inaccurate finding of being work authorized. They claim that this is mostly due to identity theft.
That is not stopping states from making the use of the system mandatory. Eighteen out of 50 states and the District of Columbia currently require employers (either public and private, or just public) to use E-Verify.
This past May, Arizona’s law requiring state businesses use E-Verify system, and subsequent penalties, was ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court to be Constitutional (Chamber of Commerce v. Whiting, No. 09-115).
My local Congressman, Rep. Lamar Smith, is one of the latest in line to support the adoption of the system nationwide and has been very vocal in his support of the Legal Workforce Act. This federal mandate would require all employers to use the E-Verify system. Rep. Smith claims that this will open up millions of jobs for American workers and “reduce the job magnet that creates illegal immigration.”
You think so Rep. Smith? This system is going to solve all the world’s problems? What’s to stop people from continuing to steal identities and circumvent the system?
Lisa Roney, who was Director of Research and Evaluation in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Office of Policy and Strategy in 1996 (when E-Verify was first implemented), says that while mandatory E-Verify could help the economy by opening up more jobs to the native U.S. Workers, it could also take workers off the books, and encourage employers to turn to private contractors, thus forcing families into poverty.
The small business industry claims that the use of E-Verify would also be taxing on their time. Rights advocates say that it promotes discrimination in the workplace. And agricultural firms are freaking about having to do anything that requires verifying citizenship.
Is anyone happy about this system?
While I can’t say that I’m ecstatic about the extra work, I am still using E-Verify in my new state of Texas. Let’s hope they get this whole identity theft thing figured out soon.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
E-verify not only does not work, but in many cases it is actually helping the illegals keep their jobs. In the construction trades many employers know that they are illegal but simply help them buy running new cards as the bring them until they find one that works. I have worked for an employer who started E-verify and had to get rid of 12 illegals. Within 2 months they were all back with new ss#. Not only were they back, but they were now in the system and set as a priority for work because the employer knew that if the were off of work too long they would need to be re-verified. In the construction trades alone millions of illegals are working while American citizens sit watching our government do nothing to help the problem.
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E-verify not only does not work, but in many cases it is actually helping the illegals keep their jobs. In the construction trades many employers know that they are illegal but simply help them by running new cards as they bring them until they find one that works. I have worked for an employer who started E-verify and had to get rid of 12 illegals. Within 2 months they were all back with new ss#. Not only were they back, but they were now in the system and set as a priority for work because the employer knew that if they were off of work too long they would need to be re-verified. In the construction trades alone millions of illegals are working while American citizens sit watching our government do nothing to help the problem.
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You guys talk because is free and do not know many things, There are many people that just do not want to do some jobs as construction, why latly you see long lines at the fast food restaurants because “do not rush me” policy and then you get extra cheese whe you said no cheese, etc
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You guys talk because is free and do not know many things, There are many people that just do not want to do some jobs as construction, why lately you see long lines at the fast food restaurants because “do not rush me” policy and then you get extra cheese whe you said no cheese, etc
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