Thread: Ala. Businesses Face April 1 Deadline for E-Verify

Ala. Businesses Face April 1 Deadline for E-Verify

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(MONTGOMERY, Ala.) - Alabama businesses are running out of time to comply with a new provision under the state's clampdown on illegal immigration.

Officials say every business in the state must enroll in the federal E-Verify program by April 1 to be in compliance with the law.

Homeland Security Director Spencer Collier says the law requires businesses to use the system to verify the legal citizenship status of new employees. And all businesses are affected, regardless of size.

While state legislators are considering changes to the law and courts have struck down key section, the E-Verify requirement remains in place.

Leaders have warned that businesses could lose their licenses for failing to abide by the law.

Collier says Homeland Security is helping ensure compliance with the law.

Ala. Businesses Face April 1 Deadline for E-Verify | Mobile AL, Pensacola FL News, Weather, Sports | WPMI-TV | Local15TV.com

E-verify enrollment deadline looming
Businesses have until Sunday to comply

Posted: Friday, March 30, 2012 5:37 pm

By Lionel Green
Sand Mountain Reporter |

Alabama businesses, regardless of size, have until Sunday to comply with the state’s immigration law by enrolling in the E-Verify program.
The requirement only pertains to new hires, according to Spencer Collier, director of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.


E-Verify is used to determine if new employees are legally authorized to work in the U.S.

“I want to emphasize how extremely important this issue is to the business community at large,” Collier said in a statement Wednesday. “It is absolutely imperative that all businesses complete this process and legally comply.”

Collier urged businesses to use the federal resources at www.uscis.gov/everify.

For businesses with 25 or fewer employees, the Alabama Department of Homeland Security provides an employer agent service to the E-Verify program via the Internet at http://immigration.alabama.gov or by calling 1-855-VERIFY-6.

“The Alabama Department of Homeland Security is committed to facilitating compliance to Alabama’s new immigration law,” Collier said. “We want the business community to be aware that it is our top priority to assist them in becoming compliant.”

The April 1 deadline is the second phase in the effort to ensure businesses enroll in E-Verify. On Jan. 1, companies that conducted business with the State of Alabama or a political subdivision of the state were required to E-Verify all new employees.

Employers who violate the law can face penalties, including suspension or revocation of their business licenses or termination of contracts.
John Pittard, president of Alatrade Foods, said the poultry industry is already largely compliant.

“I think more so than most other industries,” Pittard said. “Most poultry companies have been doing it five to 10 years on average.”

Alatrade operates plants in Albertville, Boaz and Phenix City.

Pittard said the E-Verify requirement is enforceable, adding immigration officials can conduct “random audits” and “can easily come into your organization and require you to show them all the steps you’re doing to be compliant.”

Albertville Mayor Lindsey Lyons, a strong proponent of the anti-illegal immigrant law, said E-Verify is effective.

“I’m a businessman myself, and I’m enrolled in it,” the mayor said. “The city’s enrolled in it.”

Lyons said E-Verify actually identified an illegal immigrant who was working as a temporary worker for the city last year.

”We had to let him go,” the mayor said. “He had all the documentation, but you couldn’t tell it was fraudulent.”

Lyons said the state and the City of Albertville have tried to spread the word on the looming deadline.

“I think the state agencies have done a very good job of reminding the business community that it becomes effective April 1,” the mayor said. “We’ve taken the opportunity to mention it and reminded businesses when they get a business license. I feel pretty confident we’ve done our part along with the state.”

Lyons indicated the E-Verify requirement is necessary to encourage businesses that failed to enroll voluntarily.

“I honestly believe that the vast majority of the industries and businesses want to do the right thing,” the mayor said. “But before this law, it was just out of sight, out of mind.

“I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback from the business community. Everybody wants to make sure we have legal citizens getting the jobs.”

Sand Mountain Reporter

Gearing up for action in Alabama Legislature’s second half

Posted: Friday, March 30, 2012 5:24 pm



The 2012 Alabama legislative session is halfway over, but lawmakers say the most action is yet to come.

The first half of the session saw little controversy, as legislators focused on sunset bills right before they adjourned for spring break. Republicans stirred up a little dust over tax incentives to help recruit businesses and industries, and Sen. Clay Scofield, R—Red Hill, caused an uproar from pro-choice groups with a bill that would require doctors to present and explain the images of an ultrasound before performing an abortion.

A bill, sponsored by Rep. Kerry Rich, R—Albertville, that would allow officers to use the “totality of the evidence” to charge someone for driving without a drivers license passed the House last week and was assigned to committee in the Senate. Rich said he doesn’t “anticipate any problems” getting it through the Senate.


Also, bill giving a $2,000 tax credit to businesses that hire veterans easily passed both houses and has already been signed into law.
Rich believes action in the session will pick up significantly when legislators return on April 3. With Gov. Robert Bentley declaring a 10.6 percent proration in the general fund budget, lawmakers face the difficult task of cutting spending to balance the budget. House Speaker Mike Hubbard told the Associated Press budget committees don’t plan to increase taxes to cope with the proration.

Legislators are also expected to focus on revising the state’s anti-illegal immigration law that passed last year in the second half of the session. Leaders say the proposed changes are meant to strengthen the bill’s ability to stand in court. Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh believes the bill will be better than the original, according to AP.

Additionally, legislators will handle congressional redistricting, which Hubbard and Marsh reportedly said might take place during a special session, and a debate over a bill authorizing charter schools is expected to ensue after it’s introduction late in the first half.
“We have done a lot of things,” Rich said. “We’ve moved a lot of stuff, but the big stuff is still yet to come, as it is in every session that I’ve ever been associated with.”

Sand Mountain Reporter

Alabama Unemployment Rate .vs U.S Unemployment Rate since enforcement against illegal immigration ... Sept.2011 9.8% .vs 9.0%; Oct.2011 9.3% .vs 8.9%; Nov.2011 8.7% .vs 8.7%; Dec.2011 8.1% .vs 8.5%; Jan.2012 7.8% .vs 8.3%; Feb.2012 7.6% .vs 8.3% #AL http://bit.ly/fckfhB