Smith to President: E-Verify is a Jobs Bill

Smith to President: E-Verify is a Jobs Bill

Washington, DC – During his press conference today, President Obama made remarks regarding the E-Verify program and comprehensive immigration reform.  Following his remarks, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.

Chairman Smith: “Requiring all employers to use E-Verify could open up millions of jobs for unemployed Americans.  E-Verify quickly identifies individuals working illegally in the U.S. and enjoys a 99.5% success rate.  Both the business community and the American people overwhelmingly support the expansion of E-Verify.

“E-Verify should be considered as a stand-alone bill.  It is not an immigration bill, it’s a jobs bill.  While 24 million Americans are unemployed or underemployed, seven million illegal immigrants work in the U.S.  These jobs should go to legal workers.  E-Verify opens up jobs for unemployed Americans but amnesty forces them to compete with illegal immigrants for scarce jobs.”

Earlier this month, Chairman Smith introduced the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 2164).  This bill could open up millions of jobs for unemployed Americans by requiring all U.S. employers to use the E-Verify program.

Americans overwhelmingly support E-Verify.  According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 82% of likely voters think businesses should be required to use E-Verify. 

Businesses also support E-Verify.  Chairman Smith’s bill is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, National Restaurant Association, National Association of Home Builders, Associated Builders and Contractors, among others.

Today, over 270,000 American employers voluntarily use E-Verify and an average of 1,300 new businesses sign up each week.  Outside evaluations have found that the vast majority of employers using E-Verify believe it to be an effective and reliable tool for checking the legal status of their employees. Persons eligible to work receive immediate confirmation 99.5% of the time.

E-Verify has received overwhelming bipartisan support since its creation as a pilot program in 1996.  It was extended in 2002, 2008, and 2010.  In 2008, the House passed a stand-alone five-year extension of E-verify by a vote of 407-2.  And in 2009, the Senate passed a permanent E-Verify extension by voice vote.