A state lawmaker has filed a measure mandating that private employers and other entities in Texas participate in an electronic verification system to confirm U.S. employment eligibility.
State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham) filed the measure, Senate Bill 324, last month. If passed and signed into law, the act would require state contractors, political subdivisions, and even private employers to participate in E-Verify.
E-Verify is a system utilized by the federal government to determine the employment eligibility of workers. The new act aims to compel Texas entities to participate in the program.
Private employers would also be prohibited from designating certain workers as “independent contractors” to circumvent the requirement.
According to the nonprofit policy think tank American Cornerstone Institute—which was founded by former Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson—over 75 percent of the unauthorized immigrant population in the U.S. is in the labor force.
“When opportunities exist to obtain employment, there will remain incentives to enter the United States illegally or to overstay visas,” ACI explains.
In support of the E-Verify program, ACI also writes that “A reliable and mandatory employment eligibility verification system, along with better enforcement, will serve to deter illegal immigration and increase border security efforts.”
The 89th Legislative Session begins on January 14.
