Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has re-introduced the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act that would require all employers in the United States to begin using E-Verify for all employers within 1 year. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) has introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
Mandating E-Verify for all employers is NumbersUSA's top priority in deterring future illegal immigration.
"On behalf of the more than 9 million citizens in the NumbersUSA network, I applaud Congressman Brooks for introducing legislation to mandate E-Verify. That is the most important -- and also the least expensive -- measure that can be taken to stem illegal immigration and to ensure that U.S. jobs are filled only by Americans and foreign citizens given the legal right to work here. All other actions to stop illegal immigration will continue to have limited effect as long as potential illegal migrants know they can get a job if they manage either to cross the border illegally or overstay their visas. Passage of this bill will also be a gift to the law-abiding businesses of America who would no longer have to compete with outlaw firms using illegal labor."
-- NumbersUSA President Roy Beck's public statement
"Businesses across the country have opted to use the E-Verify system to help them comply with our immigration laws. E-Verify is a proven tool for employers, including myself, that helps reduce incentives for illegal immigration and safeguards job opportunities for Americans and other legal workers. Expanding the system to every workplace will improve accountability for all businesses and take an important step toward putting American workers first,” Sen. Grassley said.
The bill has 12 original cosponsors, including Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
The Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act would:
- Permanently reauthorize the E-Verify program that was created in 1996.
- Make the program mandatory for all employers within one year of date of enactment, requires federal contractors and agencies to use the program immediately, and directs “critical employers,” as identified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to use the system within 30 days of designation.
- Increase penalties for employers who illegally hire undocumented workers.
- Reduce the liability that employers face if they participate in E-Verify when it involves the wrongful termination of an individual.
- Allow employers to use E-Verify before a person is hired if consent is provided by the employee.
- Require employers to check the status of all current employees within 3 years.
- Require employers to terminate the employment of those found unauthorized to work due to a check through E-Verify.
- Help ensure that the Social Security Administration catches multiple uses of Social Security numbers by requiring them to develop algorithms to detect anomalies.
- Establish a demonstration project in a rural area or area without internet capabilities to assist small businesses in complying with the participation requirement.
- Amend the criminal code to make clear that defendants who possess or otherwise use identity information not their own without lawful authority and in the commission of another felony is still punishable for aggravated identity fraud, regardless of the defendant’s “knowledge” of the victim.
- Require employers to re-verify an employee’s immigration status if the employment authorization is due to expire.
- Establish an Employer Compliance Inspection Center (ECIC) within ICE to streamline program audits and review compliance with worker eligibility laws.
