THIS ISSUE: Rep. Ken Calvert introduces Legal Workforce Act to require all employers to use E-Verify
FRI, JAN. 27TH
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Calif.) introduced the Legal Workforce Act in the House of Representatives -- legislation that would require employers to run all new hires through E-Verify within two years.
The legislation, first drafted by retired Congressman Lamar Smith of Texas, was first introduced in the 112th Congress and has been reintroduced in every Congress since then.
By requiring all employers to use E-Verify within two years, the bill would effectively end the jobs magnet for illegal immigration. Large employers with more than 10,000 employees must enroll in and use E-Verify within 6 months, with smaller employers phased in after that.
The legislation would also significantly increase fines for employers who willingly hire illegal workers, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 per worker depending on the severity and number of previous offenses. Employers who show a pattern of hiring illegal workers could also face jail time.
Requiring all employers to use E-Verify is the single best action Congress can take to combat illegal immigration. It was also one of the major recommendations made by the 1996 bipartisan Barbara Jordan Commission on immigration.
E-Verify's impact on current border crisis
Unfortunately, the Biden Administration has abused its executive authority to grant parole and work permits to illegal aliens who have crossed the border illegally.
However, the Department of Homeland Security recently announced that there have been more than 1.2 million got-aways since Pres. Biden took office. A mandatory E-Verify requirement would prevent this group from obtaining U.S. jobs.
Additionally, E-Verify would address the large number of illegal aliens who first entered the country legally and overstayed a visa, and paroled aliens with expired work permits.
Not mentioning E-Verify by name, House Republican Leaders included "
proof of legal status to get a job" as part of their plan to regain control of the southern border in their Commitment to America. So while the legislation had little to no chance of Congressional action in the previous two Congresses, we're hopeful that it'll receive a vote in the current Congress.