This past December, a report to the Department of Homeland Security, on E-Verify, found the system has significant problems; wrongly verifying over half of the unauthorized worker population, a failing grade by any academic standard.

The problem is simple; E-Verify is unable to detect fraud.  The E-Verify system currently only checks that the name and social security number match.  This is a positive step but, the system provides a massive loophole by not associating the name and social security number with the actual individual being checked through the system. Thus, both corroborated and malicious worker identity theft can easily occur. 

To solve this problem, the U.S. must create a better, more accurate worker verification system. Any discussion of Immigration Reform needs to include a strong worker verification system that ties the individual to the identity presented for verification. E-Verify is not a strong worker identification system, if it only identifies individuals not legally able to work in the United States 46% of the time, as discovered by Westat, a research company that evaluated the system for the Department of Homeland Security.  Any worker verification system needs to be able to detect fraud, ensuring the name and social security number are correctly associated with the individual seeking employment.

Senator Schumer recently called for a more secure identification and verification system, advocating a biometric identifier for all workers. Biometric identifiers would provide stronger authentication for a worker identification system, reducing fraud and taking away the incentive for identity theft. We support Senator Schumer’s efforts for a verification process that is effective and fair.

To read the article from the Associated Press, click here.