E-Verify System Requirement a Wrong Turn for the Obama Administration

The Obama Administration has taken a wrong step in its immigration policy. Department of Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Nepolitano, has declared that starting September 8, all businesses seeking and receiving federal contracts will be required to verify their workers’ immigration status through the E-Verify System. The system, created under the Bush Administration, shows employers whether their workers’ identification data matches that of government databases. However, many businesses have found that the system often provides unreliable and inaccurate information. There is even a pending lawsuit brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce challenging the constitutionality of such a system. Many believe that requiring such identity checks on all employees will only slow economic recovery during these trying times. This decision from President Obama is extremely disappointing and further proves the immediate need for national immigration reform.