E-Verify (H 7217, S 2320, S 2412)

The federal E-Verify program remains dependent on a system plagued with errors and misinformation, leaving nearly 10% of foreign-born citizens incorrectly deemed ineligible to work. The ACLU testified in opposition to legislation requiring most RI employers to participate in the E-Verify program.

The federal E-Verify program remains dependent on a system plagued with errors and misinformation, leaving nearly 10 percent of foreign-born citizens incorrectly deemed ineligible to work. Despite laws prohibiting pre-screening, up to 47 percent of employers have used E-Verify to pre-screen, and it is disproportionately workers of color or those with foreign-sounding last names who are disqualified as a result of name mismatches. For these reasons, the ACLU in January testified before the House Labor committee (H 7217) and in May before the Senate Judiciary committee (S 2320, S 2412) in opposition to legislation requiring most Rhode Island employers to participate in the E-Verify program. No bill received a committee vote.