By a vote of 6-4, the Texas Senate’s Business & Commerce Committee has advanced legislation by Republican Sen. Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham that would mandate the use of E-Verify in the Lone Star State.
Senate Bill 324 would require all Texas employers to use the E-Verify system to confirm workers’ legal authorization to work in the United States.
Supporters from labor unions and immigration policy groups advocated for the bill, with Jeremy Hendricks from the Laborers International Union emphasizing the importance of fair employment.
“This legislation is about fair employment practices. It ensures that all workers in Texas are employed in compliance with the law.”
Hendricks added that the measure also “prevents exploitation of undocumented workers and ensures that hard-working Texans and ethical contractors are not forced to compete against crooked businesses that disregard the law at the expense of our communities and our law-abiding businesses and workers.”
Joe Gaines, a business agent for Pipeline Local 798, stressed the safety implications of verifying employment eligibility, saying, “When contractors cut corners by hiring undocumented labor, they not only drive wages down, they compromise safety and reduce the quality of work.”
Shari Rendall with the Federation for American Immigration Reform explained that hiring individuals without confirming they are authorized to work in the U.S. is already against the law. “The E-Verify program ensures that these criteria have been met.”
Rendall provided detailed statistics about the E-Verify system, noting that “in fiscal year 2024, 98.49 percent of all employees entered into the system were confirmed as work-authorized” and only 1.68 percent received an initial mismatch.
Fran Rhodes, president of the grassroots organization True Texas Project, told the committee the measure addresses a key factor incentivizing illegal immigration. “One of the magnets that draws people to enter the state illegally is the easy access to employment by unscrupulous employers who do not verify citizenship before hiring.”
Rhodes emphasized that while the Trump administration has stopped the mass influx of illegal aliens that the Biden administration allowed in, Texas needs to put laws in place now to ensure a future president cannot undo the state’s security.
“We do realize that this puts an additional burden on small businesses who may not be ready to handle the increased responsibilities, but since the use of E-Verify seems to be easy and is free, we believe that it is definitely worth the effort,” said Rhodes.
Kolkhorst argued that E-Verify is “the most functional and cost-effective method the state of Texas can implement to stem the flow of illegal immigration.”
The senator noted that E-Verify is not only free, but can be outsourced for as little as $6 per month if an employer prefers not to handle it themselves.
