Bill Williams is correct: The U.S. should pass a law that bans the hiring of aliens (illegal immigrants) and make the penalties tough (letters, Aug. 3). E-verify exists for such a purpose, but unfortunately it is a voluntary program for most businesses. Employers with federal contracts or subcontracts that contain the Federal Acquisition Regulation E-verify clause are required to enroll in E-verify as a condition of federal contracting.
E-verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States by verifying the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees by electronically matching information provided by employees against records available to the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security.
Currently, under federal law it is illegal for any employer to engage (hire, recruit) illegal immigrants and includes hiring contractors who use illegal immigrants. Criminal and civil penalties associated with this conduct can carry fines up to $10,000 per illegal employee and harboring an illegal immigrant can lead to 10 years of prison time. It is also illegal for employers to not verify work authorization and should be completed within three days after an employee is hired.
Unfortunately, illegal immigrants who seek employment often engage in identity theft in order to work in the United States. Employers are required to make a good-faith effort to make sure that their employees are legally permitted to work in the country. Since one of the major enticements for illegal immigrants is obtaining jobs in the U.S, making the program E-verify mandatory for all employers would indeed significantly reduce illegal immigration and greatly reduce the amount of identity theft.
Joel Ramirez, Edinburg
