HR Initiative Applauds Approval of Temporary E-Verify Extension

Washington, D.C. – The Human Resource Initiative for a Legal Workforce today applauded the Senate’s approval of legislation providing for a three-year extension of funding for E-Verify.  While the federal government’s employment verification system remains controversial for its vulnerability to fraud and its reliance on outdated technologies, employers see it as a bridge to establishing an effective and efficient national employment verification system.  The House included the E-Verify funding measure in the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill it approved last week.

“U.S. employers need a foolproof employment verification system to avoid the problems of fraud and identity theft that currently undermine the effectiveness of E-Verify,” said Mike Aitken, Director of Government Affairs, Society for Human Resource Management. “While E-Verify in its current form is not a long-term solution, extending funding on a temporary basis is a responsible step that should allow the time required to transition to a more effective approach.”

The HR Initiative coalition will continue to advocate for an effective employment verification system, as embodied in the New Employee Verification Act (NEVA / H.R. 2028).  NEVA would provide a superior, user-friendly electronic employment verification system by replacing E-Verify’s paper-based and error-prone method of verifying employment eligibility. If adequately funded and fairly administered, this new system could help eliminate unauthorized employment.  Representatives Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) and Sam Johnson (R-TX) are lead sponsors of the NEVA legislation.
 
“With comprehensive immigration reform legislation on the horizon, now is the time to make improving our country’s employment verification a national priority,” said Aitken. “We are eager to continue our work with Congress to see that a state-of-the-art employment verification system is included as a central component of pending immigration reform legislation.”

Visit www.legalworkforce.org to learn more about the HR Initiative and H.R. 2028.