For those of you who are adamant about immigration laws, NumbersUSA recently developed a searchable E-Verify database. There you can locate over 200,000 businesses that currently use E-Verify.
You can use the database to find locally owned businesses who actively use E-Verify to insure their employees are legally authorized to work in the US.
Find the database here!
The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced new initiatives to enhance the web-based system, E-Verify.
E-Verify allows employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees.
The three initiatives include:
In a recent report by US Citizenship and Immigration, 1,000 new employers sign up to access the government program, E-Verify every week. Some of those signing up are following state regulations while others use it to avoid hefty fees associated with hiring unauthorized workers.
In Tennessee, the number of businesses using E-Verify has risen from 380 to 2,7171 in just four years. The state doesn't currently have a law requiring the use of E-Verify and a bill proposed earlier this year to do just that has been withdrawn.
"It really gives you the peace of mind to know that the documents you are getting from new hires are legitimate and were obtained legally," said Rachel Bragg from FreshPoint Tomato in Tennessee.
E-Verify is the government program that verifies employment authorizations of US citizen's and non-citizen's alike.
The system is fairly simple to use, though there are strict regulations surrounding the program. It has recently come under fire for inaccuracies. There is some indication, however, these inaccuracies are based solely on the fact that Human Resources representatives are not doing their share in verifying that documentation is legal and legitimate.
E-Verify is an excellent tool, but if an undocumented worker is borrowing a documented, authorized works papers, identification, and identity, there is truly no way to detect that they are fraudulent.
It is strongly advised that recruiters familiarize themselves with each type of documentation.
Liberty is happy to provide sample documentation upon request.
Federal Authorities raided Koch Foods, Inc in a 2007 immigration raid in Fairfield, OH - just north of Cincinnati.
Authorities took in 161 workers who were in the country illegally at the Koch plant.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Friday that the fines are in direct relation to the filling out employment forms and verifying those forms.
Koch has since taken measures to avoid future violations and states that there is no evidence any at Koch knowingly broke the law.
Congressman Kenny Marchant (TX) unveiled a new bill this month.
The Mortgage E-Verify Act would introduce as a condition that any applicant for modification of a home mortgage load held by Frannie Mae or Freddie Mac, or insured by the FHA, that the applicant be required to successfully pass through an E-Verify inquiry.
E-Verify is the federally mandated program that determines if someone is legally allowed to work and live in the United States. Marchant said, "E-Verify is a fantastic program which I have supported making permanent for employers. Mandating its use as a condition for home mortgage loan modifications would help eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in the system and bring integrity to the process."
The bill is spurred by a major Nevada case where a mortgage company/branch manager conspired to manufacture and submit false employment and income documentation for borrowers, most of whom were illegal immigrants.
Most companies keep some semblance of good, organized employee files. Going above and beyond when it comes to keeping the files up to date and archived is a not often used, but highly recommended practice.
In the event of employee grievances or in the terrifying case that your company becomes subject to a government audit, you'll be happy you took the time to implement a good policy when it comes to archiving these important documents.
Good practice is to create the file no later than the first day of hire. Any documents that are signed by the employee should be stored in that file. Two copies should be made, and provided to the employee. The file cabinet containing the documents should be locked at all times, and any I9 and employment verification documents are to be kept in a separate locked file.
Its a good idea to take a look at your state labor board's website for further descriptions on what type of information should be retained both during the employees tenure and after their termination.
Liberty's E-Verify service goes above and beyond the free government program. We offer support for hard questions. Sure, it's easy to verify authorized employees, but there are stringent laws employers are faced with when they are unable to confirm the candidate's authorized status. By the same token, the candidate themselves are protected under federal law. Many clients we've registered, for example, had no idea that E-Verify is never to be used a pre-screening tool. It is intended for use after-hire, and there is a small three day window in which to verify the candidate's status. Likewise, the employee cannot be terminated if E-Verify is unable to confirm their authorization. They have a time-frame to prove their authorization.
Liberty's service is step-by-step. We provide our clients with the documentation they will need to provide to the candidate, informing their new-hire of their rights and effectively reminding the hiring agent of the new-hire's rights as well.
In conjunction with our E-Verify service, we offer Electronic Form I-9's, an essential element to remain in compliance, and a total saving grace when it comes to government audits. Form I9's are filled out, signed, and stored electronically, a completely paperless and error-proof system. Any new-hire put through E-Verify must have the corresponding I9 documentation to support their status and an actual employee of the company. Liberty's services can help save companies thousands in legal fees and fines if they are ever audited.
The Obama administration announced it will require all federal contractors to run potential employees through the electronic E Verify system.
E Verify is a web based system that operated by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The system compares information from an applicant's employment eligibility form, known as an I-9, against federal government databases to verify that the individual is legally authorized to work in the United States.
Liberty Screening offers an excellent resource for verifying employment eligibility using the E Verify database.
The decision puts the administration at odds with some Congressional Democrats who believe the program is flawed and burdensome for employers.
"I support greater enforcement of workplace immigration laws, and strong penalties for employers that knowingly violate these laws, but I do not believe E-Verify is the best way to achieve those goals," Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said in a statement.
E-Verify "incorrectly rejects too many workers who should be approved, especially foreign-born workers who have become naturalized citizens," Baca added. "This creates a discriminatory system."
E-Verify has been available on a voluntary basis to employers since 1997. More than 134,000 employers have signed up, and nearly 97 percent are automatically cleared to work, according to Homeland Security officials.
"It is good to see that the administration understands how important it is to protect American jobs from being taken by illegal immigrants," said Lewis, senior Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. "Even though the administration has taken this step, it is important to make it a permanent part of our immigration law."
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