U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) on Jan. 31 sponsored legislation that would enforce the nation’s work authorization requirements for immigrants.
The E-Verify Act of 2019, S. 301, would require employers to use an electronic employment verification (E-Verify) system, according to the text of the 130-page bill.
“This measure requires all employers to use E-Verify going forward and it would strengthen the E-Verify system to help curtail the widespread unauthorized employment that fuels illegal immigration,” Sen. Portman said last week.
Federal Reserve economists wrote in an IZA Journal of Development and Migration article published on March 10, 2016 “that having an E-Verify law reduces the number of less-educated prime-age immigrants from Mexico and Central America — immigrants who are likely to be unauthorized — living in a state. We find evidence that some new migrants are diverted to other states, but also suggestive evidence that some already-present migrants leave the country entirely.”
Currently, the E-Verify program is optional for many employers and it doesn’t sufficiently validate a new employee’s identity and work authorization status, according to Sen. Portman.
“The goal of E-Verify is to provide a simple, reliable way for employers to confirm a new employee’s work eligibility and identity,” the senator said. “Since the program is optional, however, it has failed to eliminate the job magnet that remains a draw for unauthorized workers.”
S. 301, according to the text of the bill provided by Sen. Portman’s office, specifically reiterates that the “unlawful employment of unauthorized aliens” is an illegal action.
If enacted, S. 301 would require all employers to use E-Verify to confirm each new employee’s identity and work authorization status, a requirement that would be phased in over four years based on the size of the employer.
Additionally, S. 301 would mandate increased use of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Photo Tool, a photo-matching process that lets employers match a new employee’s photo identification with a digital E-Verify image, according to the text of the bill.
S. 301 also would raise the penalties for employers who don’t comply with the verification process and for employers engaged in unfair immigration-related employment practices, according to the bill.
S. 301 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.