Mandatory use of E-Verify goes before judiciary committee

United States, 15th September: All businesses in the US are likely to require use of E-Verify while hiring new employees.

The bill for mandatory use of E-Verify in the US went before House Judiciary Committee yesterday.

Until now, the E-Verify program was voluntary for US businesses.

A government-run system, it enables US businesses to verify social-security numbers of their potential workers against a federal database. The bill from Chairman Lamar Smith(R-Texas) was taken up by the House Judiciary Committee thereby making mandatory use of E-Verify by all US businesses.

The eligibility of potential workers for working in the US is checked by US Department of Homeland Security System.

E-Verify would open million of US jobs for US residents—Defending the bill, Smith urged US President Barack Obama to include in his employment plan saying it would open up a large number of jobs for legal residents of the US.

Keeping in view the fact that the rate of joblessness in the US is already hovering around 9 percent, the government requirement of E-Verify is the need of the hour, Smith asserted.

The Legal Workforce Act must be passed by the US Congress and the signed by the US President to help it become a legislation since America is struggling to provide jobs to nearly 14 million Americans currently without any work while those with undocumented immigrant status continue to get jobs, Smith said.

E-Verify offers protection against hiring undocumented immigrants—E-Verify is a simple and the best way for employers to make sure only those with legal US residency are given jobs, Smith informed. Its already being used by all federal contractors.

Already, E-Verify is being used by around 290,000 employers in the US apart from 1,300 new businesses signing up for the program every week, he stated. He highlighted that the word ‘E’ in E-Verify stands for effective and easy way.

And the fact that it just taken about two minutes to verify the eligibility of potential employees further establishes its effectiveness, Smith maintained.

E-Verify has the backing of the National Association of Home Builders, The US Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association. The bill has been criticized by US agricultural producers who depend on undocumented immigrants for doing US farm jobs.