I.D. checks may be forcedState debates making E-Verify mandatory to screen employees By Noah Haglund (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Businesses across South Carolina would have to check new hires through a federal work-eligibility database under some versions of the state's planned crackdown on illegal immigrants. The free online program, E-Verify, promises to alert employers when people aren't authorized to work. More than 57,000 U.S. businesses already use it. Arizona is the only state that requires it. Some think South Carolina should too. Critics contend E-Verify has an unacceptable error rate and doesn't guard against identity theft. Like many small business owners in the Lowcountry, Chuck Bennett said he would be happy to use a system that worked. But Bennett, who employs 14 people at his remodeling and renovation business, is wary. "If it's very simple and easy to understand, I don't think it would create any problems for us," he said. He added, "I would hate to hire somebody and have the system backfire. That's going to create ill will." Last week, South Carolina lawmakers still were ironing out details of their illegal immigration crackdown. The most likely version to pass, according to discussions in conference committee, would allow federal I-9 forms as an acceptable alternative to E-Verify. Many think that's too weak because all employers are supposed to keep I-9s anyway. One past version of the anti-illegal immigration bill required all employers to use the federal database. Another would require only public employers, such as the state government, local governments and school districts, to use it, as well as contractors doing business with them. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration run E-Verify jointly. To use it, employers have to sign a memorandum of understanding and take an hour-and-45-minute tutorial. The program has expanded rapidly, growing by more than 40,000 from a year ago, said Bill Wright, a media manager with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The government expects to have at least 300,000 businesses enrolled by the end of fiscal year 2009. In South Carolina, 460 have signed up. Some are worried that the system will mistakenly show that people aren't eligible to work. Wright said that happens only about 1 percent of the time. It finds a match within seconds more than 92 percent of the time, he said, and only about 6 percent of the reported mismatches are never contested. "It's not perfect, it's not foolproof, but it's getting better," he said. "We think we've got a tremendous system that's working well for employers." Others contend the error rate is much higher, possibly up to 10 percent for foreigners here legally. Those errors could stem from name changes, transposed numbers and other typos. Michael Aitken, director of governmental affairs for the Society for Human Resource Management, said mistakes could affect people born and raised here, too — as many as 4 percent. All told, Aitken said, 6 million people could be unfairly denied jobs. "What E-Verify does is it checks a name and a number against a database," he said. "It does nothing to confirm that the person who presents the documents is the person who owns the identity. There have been several cases where E-Verify has been beaten by people using stolen documents." He said most people think employers need to be part of the solution to illegal immigration, "but it has to be a system that works." States have been taking divergent routes. E-Verify became mandatory in Arizona on March 1, and will be phased in for all Mississippi employers by 2011. But Illinois barred employers from using it, citing the potential to unfairly deny employment and is now being sued by the U.S. government. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry says about 20,000 of that state's 150,000 employers have signed up. "I haven't heard a ton of negative backlash from folks who are using it," said Ann Seiden, the Arizona chamber's vice president of communications. Businesses can't use it as a screening tool, only after extending a job offer. Technically all Arizona employers should be using the program, but the state does not penalize those that don't — only if they knowingly hire an illegal worker. Employees have eight working days to rectify a mismatch, should one arise. One lingering concern is how small companies will adapt, since some don't have computers, Seiden said. Perhaps a bigger worry involves E-Verify's weakness in detecting identity theft. Arizona already had the country's highest identity-theft rates, she said, and some worry the federal database could encourage more. Jill Coley of The Post and Courier contributed to this report. Reach Noah Haglund at nhaglund@postandcourier.com or 937-5550. Editor's note: The print version of this story contained errors with respect to the number of mismatches from the database that are never contested and the total expected enrollment through 2009. The Post and Courier regrets the error. |
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Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by BKLYNIRISH on March 23, 2008 at 3:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One step at time, Harpo. The American people are demanding this, and the process will refine itself over time to the desired level of effectiveness.
Posted by UrGatorbait on March 23, 2008 at 5:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's a start to begin enforcing of the laws on the books, to get the new technology and laws in-place. It seems we'll have to have a growing pain period to get this ball rolling, albeit a little to late IMO. It should ideally a useful tool in helping to stem the illegal immigration problem in this not the primary solution.
Take some of that money they are going to use to build a "fence" and distribute it to the states to enforce local laws regarding immigration.
Posted by BKLYNIRISH on March 23, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This is the first of many steps that must be taken to make the State of South Carolina positively unlivable for those who choose to flout our laws.
Posted by Popeye on March 23, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Personally I would not HIRE Mr. Bennett to do my renovation work if he showed up with a illegal alien crew. The FIRST ? I would ask him is "do U hire foreign labor to do your work." If he said "Yes" that would be the END of that discussion. If he hires illegal aliens, and says he doesn't KNOW their status, I assume he is lying and is there fore willing to break OTHER rules and laws. I don't want companies like that anywhere near my property. That is just me.
Posted by zmysticman on March 23, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, if we just put bar codes/computer chips on the backs of everyone's necks then we can scan everyone, that way we can know if you are legall, illegal, in the right place, wrong place, and if you need to be found they know where you are all the time. A real ID card you never have to renew.
Posted by Beerkrugul on March 23, 2008 at 10:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SC lawmakers are just wasting taxpayer money on this immigration bill. The business community is fighting this bill because they do not want to lose the profits from using illegal workers.
SC lawmakers need a strong bill that will send a message to the the rest of the nation. Until that time, don't waste my money sitting on your lazy butts with a watered down bill.
Illegals say they are doing jobs that nobody wants. Who did these jobs before they came?
Posted by Popeye on March 23, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If U don't do business with the bums that hire them they will change their minds about hiring the illegals. Works for ME!
Posted by UnitedWeStand on March 23, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Greetings Charlestonians,
I personally believe the South Carolina law makers who are trying to water down this new immigration legislation are doing for personal reason, its easy to see the mighty lobbyist powers at work right in from of us. Why else would these law makers choose to hurt our community, by trying to pass slack legislation? What is the reason, personal gain or greed or both? These back ally secret handshake, you scratch me back I'll scratch your, money dumped into my election campaign (yummy), are just wrong!
What's so hard about creating a law that will be effective? I say the most stringent immigration laws are the best for us in the long run.
Stricter immigration legislation bill/law coupled with very high penalties for employers who hire illegal workers would be great. But the key to success is enforcement, without it, this new law would only be words on a paper...
Case in point: Dorchester counties Lawful employment ordinance, this ordinance was past last year http://www.dorchestercounty.net/docs/Ord... . This law is currently in effect, but its lack of its enforcement shows this new ordinance is not working.
Take for instance Ryland inc. www.Ryland.com , they have a new subdivision in Dorchester County called Taylor Plantation, its off of Appian way, on any given day when construction workers are on site, these illegal workers are installing underground utilities, framing houses, sheet rocking, siding, and landscaping. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out what’s going on, these workers might be or are illegal. This one point shows that even with stricter laws/ordinances our laws will continually be broken; we need very strict penalties for businesses and more importantly enforcement.
Remember, Without Enforcement these laws won't work, Without Enforcement these laws won't work, Without Enforcement these laws won't work, Without Enforcement these laws won't work, Without Enforcement these laws won't work.
Just my 2 cents!
Happy Easter
Peace
United We Stand
Posted by Brittanicus on March 23, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Although South Carolina is not fully supporting its enacted immigration legislation, it still has made some effort. Other states such as Arizona, Georgia and Oklahoma have also listened to its taxpayers. However the globalist, open border, free traders have been silently implanted in our government and their main agenda is the free movement of cheap labor throughout the North American continent. The European Union is a good example of this, where indigenous peoples have been outsourced by mass foreign national cheap labor.
We can stop the travesty of our immigration laws, if only the majority of Democrats would co-sign the SAVE ACT. With only 18 more votes to go, we could bring this enforcement only bill to a vote. However, the Democrats want to attaches an addendum to the bill. It would give the 12 to 20 million foreign nationals occupying our nation, an easy ride to legality. This is wrong when millions wait for years patiently, to get THE PEOPLES permission to get a entry visa.
The SAVE ACT is a by-partisan law is awaiting just 18 signers, to bring this enforcement only to a House vote. The SAVE ACT will supersede any state laws, in its magnitude. It will go after the real culprits who are the predator employers. It is enforcement by Attrition or Self-Deportation. Cannot get work, then they will leave of their own accord.If you are one of the citizens fed up with subsiding the poor, uneducated from around the world. When the new personage steps into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, then we will be seeing the 12 to 20 million getting a path to citizenship. Nobody should have a right to legalization without going home and being processed like all immigrants.
YOU! And only YOU, can stop this travesty of our Immigration laws?
Tell your representatives to co-author THE SAVE ACT?
Congress is currently on recess through March 31st, so your representative will likely be in the home constituency and available to meet with its citizens.
FREE FAXES FOUND HERE. Keep calling your Congressmen today, toll free numbers include 1-877-851-6437 and 1-866-220-0044, or call toll 1-202-224-3121 AND REGISTER YOUR OUTRAGE at ongoing efforts to keep our country from enforcing its immigration laws!
http://capwiz.com
www.numbersusa.com
www.fairus.org
www.vdare.org
Posted by ridgerunner on March 24, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WONDER WHO CUTS THE LAWN AT LINDSEY GRAHAM'S
HE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET US ALL A GOOD DEAL!
Posted by Delawarebob on June 29, 2008 at 5:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm from the State of Delaware, and I'm just posting a comment to let the State of South Carolina know how proud I am of you for passing a State Law to free your State of the ILLEGAL ALIENS. I wish my representatives here in Delaware had the backbone to pass a law here. Well, maybe soon.
Mississippi's Law will going into effect July 1st. More good news.
ALL THE VERY BEST to the GREAT STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA!