Legislation

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 ACLU testified in support of legislation permitting the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants.

Individuals seeking housing should be concerned with paying the rent and being good neighbors; they should not have to be concerned about intrusive and unnecessary questions regarding their immigration or citizenship status.

In June, the Governor signed into law legislation expanding the availability of interpreters for court proceedings involving people who do not have the ability to understand or communicate effectively in English.

The ACLU of Rhode Island testified in March before the House Labor committee in support of legislation expressly keeping participation in the E-Verify program voluntary.

In May, the ACLU testified before the Senate Judiciary committee in opposition to well-intentioned legislation designed to provide special driver’s licenses to foreign nationals.

The ACLU of RI testified in February before the House Labor committee in opposition to a bill making E-Verify use mandatory by Rhode Island employers, and in favor of a bill keeping the E-Verify program voluntary.

The General Assembly again considered a number of bills to require the use of the E-Verify program before hiring any workers.

The year got off to a positive start when, on his first day in office, Governor Chafee signed an executive order lifting a requirement that state agencies and business contractors use the deeply flawed federal E-Verify program to check the immigration status of workers.