The E-Verify program has been the topic of much controversy within the U.S. Congress. On September 27, 2008, Congress voted to extend the E-Verify program which will stay in effect until March 6, 2009. This brief extension will end shortly after the new Presidential Administration takes office leaving the new administration to inherit the responsibility of addressing the long-term renewal of the program.
E-Verify which stands for “Employment Eligibility Verification Program”, is a collaborative effort of the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to electronically confirm if a worker is legally eligible to work in the United States. Most Employers use this program on a voluntary basis however; several states are now required to participate in the E-Verify program and on June 6, 2008 President Bush signed an executive order that will also require federal contractors and subcontractors to participate as well.
The new Congress and Administration could utilize this extension as an opportunity to improve upon the current program and further expand its potential or the program could face possible elimination. We will have to wait and see what the future holds for the continuation of the E-Verify program.
