Orrin Hatch: “I stand to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 3030, the House bill that would extend a pilot program for employment…”

“I stand to introduce a companion bill to H.R. 3030, the House bill that would extend a pilot program for employment eligibility verification of non-citizens. This bill would extend the program, set to expire this year, for two more years. This basic pilot program, available to employers in California, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, and Texas, was authorized in 1996, and has proved to be an incredibly effective resource since then. The program allows participating employers to electronically access certain government databases in order to verify the employment authorization of non-citizens. Electronic confirmation of this information provides a critical tool for employers to ensure that they are not hiring unauthorized aliens. This program allows employers to protect themselves from the employer sanction provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, while providing meaningful deterrence to would-be employers who lack appropriate authorization from the INS. During this time of increased national security, we can all appreciate any tool that will facilitate enforcement of our immigration laws.”