Thread: Report: E-Verify needs improvement

Report: E-Verify needs improvement

San Bernardino County Sun (California)
July 20, 2009 Monday
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer

A reliable system to ensure that employers don't hire illegal immigrants must be the centerpiece of any overhaul of immigration laws, a nonpartisan think tank said in a report released Monday.

"Effective employment verification must be at the heart of comprehensive immigration- reform legislation if new policies are to succeed in preventing future illegal immigration," said Doris Meissner, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., which put out the report.

E-Verify, the government's voluntary electronic verification program in effect since 1997, has been greatly improved, and error rates have fallen sharply in recent years, the report states.

But the system still has database and user errors, leading to legal immigrants and U.S. citizens being rejected for jobs, according to the report.

Nearly 97 percent of potential hires are automatically cleared to work, and 99 percent are eventually cleared through the system.

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

The report recommends that Congress strengthen worker protections and monitor employers' use of the program to prevent fraud and abuse.

In addition, the report says Congress should test other approaches, such as the use of improved identity documents, to verify employment eligibility.

Area lawmakers have differing views about E-Verify, which will be mandatory starting

Sept. 8 for businesses seeking federal contracts.

Congress is considering legislation to make E-Verify a permanent program.

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said he has "serious questions" about E-Verify.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.

Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, said E-Verify is effective but can be improved. Dreier has introduced a bill to create a mandatory employee verification system using a Social Security card that cannot be faked.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, said existing law mandates the kinds of worker protections and monitoring recommended by the report.

Lewis is "committed to helping any citizen or legal immigrant constituent" who believes he or she has been wrongly denied work or benefits, said Jim Specht, his spokesman.

Dreier and Lewis say they support requiring all employers to use the program.

Department of Homeland Security officials say there are several initiatives under way to reduce errors and enhance the program's effectiveness.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 88&start=5

Report: E-Verify needs improvement

San Bernardino County Sun (California)
July 20, 2009 Monday
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer

A reliable system to ensure that employers don't hire illegal immigrants must be the centerpiece of any overhaul of immigration laws, a nonpartisan think tank said in a report released Monday.

"Effective employment verification must be at the heart of comprehensive immigration- reform legislation if new policies are to succeed in preventing future illegal immigration," said Doris Meissner, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., which put out the report.

E-Verify, the government's voluntary electronic verification program in effect since 1997, has been greatly improved, and error rates have fallen sharply in recent years, the report states.

But the system still has database and user errors, leading to legal immigrants and U.S. citizens being rejected for jobs, according to the report.

Nearly 97 percent of potential hires are automatically cleared to work, and 99 percent are eventually cleared through the system.

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

The report recommends that Congress strengthen worker protections and monitor employers' use of the program to prevent fraud and abuse.

In addition, the report says Congress should test other approaches, such as the use of improved identity documents, to verify employment eligibility.

Area lawmakers have differing views about E-Verify, which will be mandatory starting

Sept. 8 for businesses seeking federal contracts.

Congress is considering legislation to make E-Verify a permanent program.

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said he has "serious questions" about E-Verify.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.

Rep. David Dreier, R-San Dimas, said E-Verify is effective but can be improved. Dreier has introduced a bill to create a mandatory employee verification system using a Social Security card that cannot be faked.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands, said existing law mandates the kinds of worker protections and monitoring recommended by the report.

Lewis is "committed to helping any citizen or legal immigrant constituent" who believes he or she has been wrongly denied work or benefits, said Jim Specht, his spokesman.

Dreier and Lewis say they support requiring all employers to use the program.

Department of Homeland Security officials say there are several initiatives under way to reduce errors and enhance the program's effectiveness.

http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/En ... 88&start=5

The problem is: Putting it to use - the Congress and States know it works - they are afraid "We the People" may regain the authority.

The problem is: Putting it to use - the Congress and States know it works - they are afraid "We the People" may regain the authority.

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said he has "serious questions" about E-Verify.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.
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what a racist bastard. everify is free to ALL businesses

Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said he has "serious questions" about E-Verify.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.
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what a racist bastard. everify is free to ALL businesses

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

I thought the percentage of errors was actually lower than one percent. In any event, if you're legally allowed to work here, and it rejected you, there's recourse. I can't imagine an American or legal immigrant not challenging a false response for a job they want. Illegal aliens, however, would probably just walk away.

E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

This is what I've been trying to figure out for a while now. I guess it's not that sophisticated yet, but it would be a fantastic improvement.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.

I thought it was free to businesses and local governments. Is it not? I also understand that it's as easy to use as ordering something from Amazon.com. So it takes a few hours for a H.R. person to learn it. After that, it should be very easy.

This should be mandated for all new hires if not the existing workforce. Only people that are pro-illegal aliens would oppose it.

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

I thought the percentage of errors was actually lower than one percent. In any event, if you're legally allowed to work here, and it rejected you, there's recourse. I can't imagine an American or legal immigrant not challenging a false response for a job they want. Illegal aliens, however, would probably just walk away.

E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

This is what I've been trying to figure out for a while now. I guess it's not that sophisticated yet, but it would be a fantastic improvement.

"While the report makes sound suggestions on how to improve the current system, I still have many concerns related to the cost of the program on businesses and local governments," Baca said in a statement.

I thought it was free to businesses and local governments. Is it not? I also understand that it's as easy to use as ordering something from Amazon.com. So it takes a few hours for a H.R. person to learn it. After that, it should be very easy.

This should be mandated for all new hires if not the existing workforce. Only people that are pro-illegal aliens would oppose it.

Originally Posted by ChiWatcher2

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

I thought the percentage of errors was actually lower than one percent. In any event, if you're legally allowed to work here, and it rejected you, there's recourse. I can't imagine an American or legal immigrant not challenging a false response for a job they want. Illegal aliens, however, would probably just walk away.

[quote:20638tt8]E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

[/quote:20638tt8]
This is what I've been trying to figure out for a while now. I guess it's not that sophisticated yet, but it would be a fantastic improvement.
[quote]

one would think with technology today that a system would be able to find out if a SS# was already being used someplace else and if so, ask the employer to call a number for more info.

Originally Posted by ChiWatcher2

But even a 1 percent error rate would affect about 600,000 workers per year if the program became mandatory, the report says.

I thought the percentage of errors was actually lower than one percent. In any event, if you're legally allowed to work here, and it rejected you, there's recourse. I can't imagine an American or legal immigrant not challenging a false response for a job they want. Illegal aliens, however, would probably just walk away.

[quote:20638tt8]E-Verify also cannot detect identity fraud, the report states.

"The core weakness of E-Verify is that it is not designed for, or capable of, authenticating identity that would prevent false confirmations based on stolen identities," the report states.

[/quote:20638tt8]
This is what I've been trying to figure out for a while now. I guess it's not that sophisticated yet, but it would be a fantastic improvement.
[quote]

one would think with technology today that a system would be able to find out if a SS# was already being used someplace else and if so, ask the employer to call a number for more info.