U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has introduced a bill to make use of E-Verify mandatory during the hiring process of every employer in all 50 states, a move that aims to reduce illegal aliens taking American jobs.
E-Verify is an online database that employers can use to determine if potential hires are eligible to work in the United States. It is a project of the federal government and available to all American businesses free of charge.
Currently, only nine states, including Alabama, require all employers to use E-Verify.
“The prospect of a job entices illegal aliens to break into America. Making E-Verify mandatory for all companies coupled with harsh penalties for violations cuts off illegal aliens from American jobs,” Brooks said in a statement explaining his reasons for bringing the legislation.
“E-Verify is the most effective deterrent to illegal immigration because it shuts off one of the main pull factors to illegal immigration, off the books jobs for illegal aliens,” Brooks added.
Brooks’ legislation, officially titled the “Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act,” has 13 original cosponsors, all members of the Republican Party.
The bill was praised by anti-illegal immigration groups in statements provided by the congressman’s office.
“E-Verify gives employers a free and easy way to be certain that their employees are legally authorized to work, and it prevents illegal aliens from accessing the jobs that American citizens and legal immigrants so desperately need, particularly now, as the economy recovers from the pandemic. NumbersUSA applauds Congressman Brooks for introducing the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act,” said Rosemary Jenks, director of Government Relations at NumbersUSA.
Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, added, “This bill attacks the source of the problem, rather than its symptoms. We applaud Congressman Brooks and urge every one of his colleagues to cosponsor.”
Brooks’ bill is unlikely to become law in the immediate future, with the Democratic Party controlling the U.S. House, Senate and the presidency.
“The result?” Brooks asked rhetorically about the results of his bill if made law, “Fewer illegal aliens to take jobs from and suppress the wages of American workers. Which equates to higher pay and more jobs for Americans.”
“An added bonus is that illegal aliens who can’t get jobs will self-deport at no cost to taxpayers. That is a great deal for all Americans! This bill is a no-brainer,” Brooks concluded.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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