Contractors oppose rule on employee citizenship verification
By GREGG CARLSTROM
August 18, 2008

Contractors are opposing a government plan that would require them to verify the immigration status of their employees.

They say the proposed plan, which could take effect in the next few months, would be a huge drain on their human resources staff. And they argue that there’s little evidence contractors are employing illegal immigrants.

The proposal would affect companies that win new federal contracts — they would be required to verify the immigration status of all employees working on a contract within 30 days of receiving it, including those working abroad. Contractors would also have to verify all new hires — whether or not they perform government work — for the duration of the contract.

The Homeland Security Department proposed the rule in June, in response to an executive order from President Bush directing agencies to verify that their contract employees are legally employed. Companies would be required to use E-Verify, the electronic verification system managed by Citizenship and Immigration Services.

More than 100 public comments on the proposed rule were sent to Homeland Security, mostly from contractors calling on the department to scuttle the plan. Criticism came from Lockheed Martin, Dynamics Research Corporation, IntelliDyne, the Professional Services Council, the Society for Human Resource Management, and a number of religious groups that advocate for immigrants’ rights.

Contracting groups have two main concerns about E-Verify. They claim it is not capable of handling so much activity, and that it generates a high number of incorrect results.

“E-Verify is just not ready,â€