Employee verification system faulty, some say

Employee verification system faulty, some say
By EARLESHA BUTLER and BEN PIPER • August 26, 2008

A new Mississippi law requiring employers to verify the identity of employees may have holes that don't protect employers from hiring undocumented immigrants, said a Sanderson Farms executive Monday.

The new law uses e-verification, an electronic database operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The program allows companies to verify employees by comparing information on an employee's I-9 form with their Social Security information.

But Mike Cockrell, chief financial officer of Sanderson Farms, a chicken-processing plant based in Laurel, said the system's downside is its inability to detect false or stolen ID information.

"If somebody comes in and they manufacture a name .... that's the primary weakness in the system," Cockrell said.

State Sen. Joey Fillingane, R-Sumrall, said companies are not responsible for determining if their employees are committing identity fraud or theft.

"We don't hold the companies responsible for that," Fillingane said. "I'm not saying this bill is perfect. What I'm saying is that this is a better way of enforcing the laws."

According to the law, companies violating the provisions of the law could lose their state contracts for up to three years. Violators can also lose their business license for a year.

"I don't think any company (could) say we don't have any illegal immigrants," Cockrell said, in response to the raid of 350 employees at Howard Industries in Laurel. "There's no way I can say with certainty that everybody working with us is legal."

According to statistics by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 82,894 employers across the country are using e-verify.

In Mississippi, 1,340 employers are using the database at 4,455 worksites throughout the state.

"I will not disagree with anyone who says the system has some challenges," said Bill Wright, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman. "(But) it's not an identity fraud tool."

Wright said enhancements are being made to better assist employers.

In September, the federal government began requiring immigrant workers to provide a photo identification. An employer can match the photo image with others to verify its workers' identities.

"We are enhancing the program continually to make it better," Wright said.

State Sen. Chris McDaniel, R-Ellisville, said the e-verify system "is much more accurate" than previous processes. McDaniel said he was confident in the system.

"I don't know of any perfect system created by the government," he said. "Other states have used the e-verify system with success. I am confident Mississippi will as well."

Calls to the Marshall Durbin chicken processing plant in Hattiesburg were not returned.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps ... 60303/1002

I would not consider 99.5% accuracy faulty,but I guess some pro amnesty and pro slave labor companies do.

From my point of view, if I were an employer of a large work-force of non-English speakers, I would demand e-verify. The savings of paying measly wages can easily be wiped out by being shut down after and ICE raid for a few days or weeks. Or also coming under the scrutiny of the health inspectors, code enforcement and every other imaginable agency local and federal that comes in to take a close look at business practices and workers' conditions, plus I am sure the IRS would be closely examining tax returns, as has gone on at Agriprocessors.

Sanderson Farms is close to Howard Industries that Ice raided yesterday,
talk about planting a story! Think this Sanderson Farms executive is worried? :lol:

Let's all tell them that we have reported them to I.C.E.

Sanderson Farms EMAIL FORM

http://www.sandersonfarms.com/contact/contact.asp

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Sanderson Farms, Inc.
127 Flynt Road
P.O. Box 988
Laurel, MS 39441-0988
Main (601) 649-4030 Fax (601) 426-1461
Toll Free 1-800-844-4030 Sales: (800) 267-1510 Fax (601) 426-1503


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Sanderson Farms, Inc.
127 Flynt Road
P.O. Box 988
Laurel, MS 39441-0988
Toll Free 1-800-391-0690 Fax (601) 425-0772


Sales Information
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
127 Flynt Road
P.O. Box 988
Laurel, MS 39441-0988
Toll Free 1-800-267-1510 Fax (601) 426-1503


Employment Information
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
127 Flynt Road
P.O. Box 988
Laurel, MS 39441-0988
Main (601) 649-4030 Fax (601) 426-1461
Toll Free 1-800-844-4030

Contract Grower Information
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
127 Flynt Road
P.O. Box 988
Laurel, MS 39441-0988
Main (601) 649-4030 Fax (601) 426-1461
Toll Free 1-800-844-4030


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http://www.sandersonfarms.com/contact/contact.asp

email sent:

Your company's name keeps coming up as a major violator of employment laws. Locals repeatedly say that fully half of your employees are illegals. As such, just to let you know, you have been reported to I.C.E. I would suggest you begin using E-Verify, as it shouldn't be too long before I.C.E. completes their investigation of your company, and plans a raid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by vortex

From my point of view, if I were an employer of a large work-force of non-English speakers, I would demand e-verify. The savings of paying measly wages can easily be wiped out by being shut down after and ICE raid for a few days or weeks. Or also coming under the scrutiny of the health inspectors, code enforcement and every other imaginable agency local and federal that comes in to take a close look at business practices and workers' conditions, plus I am sure the IRS would be closely examining tax returns, as has gone on at Agriprocessors.

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Don't forget the savings lost when the company is sued by their illegal alien employees. :wink:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Buzzm1

email sent:

Your company's name keeps coming up as a major violator of employment laws. Locals repeatedly say that fully half of your employees are illegals. As such, just to let you know, you have been reported to I.C.E. I would suggest you begin using E-Verify, as it shouldn't be too long before I.C.E. completes their investigation of your company, and plans a raid.

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GREAT JOB BUZZM1! :)

"Mike Cockrell, chief financial officer of Sanderson Farms, a chicken-processing plant based in Laurel, said the system's downside is its inability to detect false or stolen ID information. "If somebody comes in and they manufacture a name .... that's the primary weakness in the system," Cockrell said."

I sent this statement in to I.C.E. It's obvious that Mike Cockrell doesn't have even the vaguest idea as to how E-Verify works; only an idiot would make that statement. I'm certain that I.C.E. will appreciate the opportunity to prove Mike wrong, again, and again, as they shut Sanderson Farms down. Chicken producers in the area will have Mike to thank when I.C.E. comes calling. Talk about about diarrhea of the mouth and constipation of the brain. Even most chickens are smarter than that.