U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) introduced the Mandatory E-Verify Act of 2026 this week, requiring all employers nationwide to verify the employment eligibility of their workers and permanently reauthorizing the E-Verify program.
“American jobs should be going to Americans,” Tuberville said. “E-Verify is a proven tool that protects good-paying jobs for Americans and helps employers legally staff their businesses. It’s past time we are serious about enforcing all of our country’s immigration laws, especially when it comes to workforce participation. This bill is a win for small businesses, American workers, and the rule of law.”
“If you come to this country illegally, you shouldn’t be here to begin with, and you shouldn’t be working in the United States,” Britt said. “This legislation builds on Republicans’ historic success in securing our border by eliminating the largest magnet for illegal immigration.”
While E-Verify is already mandatory in certain states and federal agencies, no nationwide standard currently exists. The legislation would enhance civil and criminal penalties for employing illegal aliens, strengthen fraud prevention measures within the program, and prohibit states from blocking employers from using E-Verify.
According to recent analysis, an estimated 8.3 million illegal aliens were in the American workforce as of 2022, a number that grew to nearly 10.8 million by early 2025.
The bill is the latest in a series of immigration enforcement measures from Alabama’s Senate delegation. Tuberville introduced the ASSIMILATION Act earlier this month targeting chain migration and the diversity visa lottery. Britt and Tuberville have previously joined forces on immigration legislation dating back to 2023.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), and James Lankford (R-OK). It is supported by the Federation for American Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, Heritage Action, and the National Immigration Center for Enforcement.
Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
