To reduce hiring illegal workers, the federal government is ramping up its E-Verify program which is an internet bases identification program operated by the Department of Homeland Security to check whether or not a person is authorized to work in the United States. The E-Verify system permits employers to electronically verify whether or not a newly hired employee is actually eligible to work in the U.S.
E-Verify is free and voluntary. Over 10,000 California employers have already signed up for the E-Verify program. Nationwide, over 87,000 employers have signed up for E-Verify. And, in 2008, there were more than 6.5 million inquiries by employers to check the eligibility status of employees.
Currently, the federal E-Verify program has a 100 million dollar budget. Earlier this month, President Obama indicated that he would like Congress to increase the budget another 12 million dollars. And, Janet Napolitano, Homeland Security Secretary, explained to Congress that the E-Verify program is "a cornerstone of workplace enforcement across the country." Secretary Napolitano believes that the E-Verify program is critical to ensure that the U.S. workforce consists of people authorized by law to work in the U.S.
For more information visit the Department of Homeland Security website.
