Despite New State Law Rep Calvert Pushes For Mandatory Federal E-Verify Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. October 14, 2011 – Earlier this week California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 1236, making it illegal for the state and California municipalities to voluntarily use the E-verify system.

"Right now, across America, various states and local governments are enacting mandatory E-Verify.  Meanwhile, California is going the other way by enacting a ban on voluntary E-Verify, and in fact the Governor is signing laws to preempt the use of E-verify. This is an outrage," said Rep. Calvert.

Under the new California law, neither the state of California nor any of municipalities, can require an employer to use E-Verify as a condition of receiving a government contract, applying for or maintaining a business license. However, California employers are able to use E-verify on a voluntary basis or as required by federal contracts.

"The illegal population looking for work will now head to states that are ignoring the problem and away from states like Arizona and Alabama which have taken a proactive role to fill the vacuum the federal government has left with regard to immigration policy.
 
"People will understandably go where they can find work. However, in a state with 12.1% unemployment, we cannot afford the burden on our schools and social services the influx brings. 

"The United States needs a uniform system that ensures ALL workers in America are legal and paying into the system that they are using. That is why I support and am a sponsor of H.R. 2885, the Legal Workforce Act."
 
E-Verify, created by Rep. Calvert in 1996 through legislation, is the only tool available to employers to check the legal status of newly hired employees.  It is web-based, 99.5% accurate and free to employers.

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