Rep. Calvert Questions Delay of Order Requiring Federal Contractors to Use E-Verify

Press Release

REP. CALVERT QUESTIONS DELAY OF ORDER REQUIRING FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO USE E-VERIFY

E-Verify is Ready for Expanded Use

Today Congressman Calvert (R-CA) questioned the Obama Administration's decision to delay implementation of an Executive Order that would require all federal contractors to use E-Verify and ensure they are hiring legal works. The Executive Order issued by President Bush would have required federal contractors to sign up with E-Verify starting February 20, 2009 but the Obama Administration originally delayed the order until May 21, 2009; now the date has been pushed to June 30, 2009.

"This is the second time the new Administration has delayed the order and it simply makes no sense. E-Verify has stated they are ready and have the capacity to run the increased number of queries to the system. At a time when Americans are losing jobs, we should be doing everything we can to ensure that federal funds are going to employ American citizens and legal workers - not illegal immigrants. I call on the Administration to quit stalling and move forward with the order to require federal contractors to use E-Verify."

Rep. Calvert was the original author of the bill that created E-Verify in 1996 and is leading the effort to reauthorize the current voluntary program (H.R. 662). Rep. Calvert also introduced legislation that would make use of E-Verify mandatory for all employers in the U.S (H.R. 19).

Over the last 11 years, E-Verify has evolved from a humble five state pilot program to a nationwide voluntary program. The States of Mississippi and Arizona have made E-Verify mandatory for all employers.

E-Verify is 99.6% accurate and 96.1% of checks to the system receive an instant "green light" to work. For individuals who receive a tentative non-confirmation, they have eight business days to contact SSA or DHS. DHS has also implemented the Photo Tool program for non-citizens (legal residents authorized to work in the U.S.) which allows employers to check the photo presented on the Employment Authorization Document with the photo in the DHS database.

A study by the Center on Immigration Studies shows that 1.3 million illegal immigrants have left the U.S. since the summer of 2007, mostly due to increased border and worksite enforcement (Christian Science Monitor, 7/31/08, Tide of illegal immigrants now being reversed). In addition to the government crackdown on illegal immigration, the economic downturn is dramatically slowing immigration to the U.S., according to data from the Census Bureau. (Wall Street Journal, 9/23/08, Immigration Slows in Face of Economic Downturn).

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