Julie Myers Wood, a Security Debrief contributor and the former head of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, spoke with Mickey McCarter of Homeland Security Today to discuss making the E-Verify employment eligibility program permanent before it expires in May.
Former ICE Chief Calls for E-Verify Reauthorization – Homeland Security Today
The E-Verify employment eligibility program, due to expire March 6, should receive permanent authorization from Congress as soon as possible, Julie Myers Wood, former director of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told HSToday.us.
“E-Verify encourages companies to comply with the law. It’s not perfect; it’s not a comprehensive solution; but it does provide a critical piece toward employment verification. It helps reduce the number of individuals using phony documents to get a job,” said Myers Wood, now president of Immigration and Customs Solutions LLC.
Myers Wood testified before the Indiana state legislature earlier this month in support of a state law that would mandate the use of E-Verify. There, she cited statistics that show 96 percent of employees checked through E-Verify receive instant clearance that they are legally eligible to work in the United States. Of the 4 percent who do not, 90 percent do not challenge the results of the E-Verify check against the Social Security Administration database.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been taking steps to prevent fraud through E-Verify as well, Myers Wood said.
“There are challenges with respect to identity theft,” Myers Wood commented. “E-Verify is taking some steps to solve that problem. A number of private individuals, including my company, are looking at helping employers solve that problem.
To read the full article, click here.
