Portman Introduces Amendment to Strengthen E-Verify & Prevent Future Illegal Immigration

Press Release

U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) today introduced an amendment to the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S.744) that would strengthen implementation of an electronic employment verification (E-Verify) system in order to stem the tide of illegal immigration. By curtailing the employment of unauthorized workers who come to the United States illegally, protecting privacy, and minimizing burdens on employers, this amendment will provide the country with a lasting, workable solution to help prevent future illegal immigration.

"Our immigration system is broken. It is too easy for people to cross our borders illegally and find work; and too difficult for those who seek to come here in accordance with the law," Portman said. "Whatever reform we may adopt in this Congress will fail in the long run, however, if we do not eliminate the enticement to come to our country to work illegally. My amendment will address the fundamental problem of unauthorized workers by removing the jobs magnet that undermined the 1986 reforms and left us in the situation we face today, with millions of people living and working in the shadows."

As currently written, S.744 mandates nationwide E-Verify implementation while doing too little to address its fundamental flaws. A recent study estimated that the E-Verify error rate for unauthorized workers is 54 percent, failing to detect more than half of the unauthorized workers who seek verification.

Portman's amendment takes a variety of steps to strengthen protections against illegal employment in the least burdensome manner on business.

The Portman E-Verify amendment includes the following provisions:

* Enhances Protections Against Identity Theft and Fraud

* Strengthens Photo Tool Effectiveness and Data Privacy Protections

* Enhances the "Additional Security Measures" for Identify Verification

* Protects Employers Who Seek to Comply in Good Faith

* Expedites E-Verify Rollout and Ensure Full Implementation

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