DHS Announces E-Verify Initiatives

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a trio of E-Verify initiatives on March 17, 2010, including (1) a new agreement with the Department of Justice intended to streamline the adjudication process in cases of E-Verify misuse and discrimination; (2) an informational telephone hotline for workers seeking E-Verify information; and (3) new training videos in English and Spanish on E-Verify procedures and policies, employee rights, and employer responsibilities.

The Memorandum of Agreement signed between USCIS and the Department of Justice’s Office of Special Counsel for Unfair Immigration-Related Employment Practices establishes a streamlined process for addressing potential cases of discrimination and employer misuse of E-Verify and establishes a protocol between USCIS and the Department of Justice for referring matters that fall within the agencies’ respective jurisdictions.

The USCIS E-Verify help line will offer employees information about the E-Verify process, as well as assistance in completing the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification). Callers can also use the help line to file complaints about possible discrimination or employer misuse of the E-Verify program. The hotline number is (888) 897-7781. It is expected to be active beginning April 5, 2010.

The two new educational training videos were created by the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and are viewable at http://www.dhs.gov/e-verify and http://www.youtube.com/ushomelandsecurity.

DHS reports that more than 192,000 participating employers currently use E-Verify at more than 705,000 worksites nationwide to electronically verify their workers’ employment eligibility. Since October 1, 2009, E-Verify has processed more than six million queries.

The two new educational training videos were created by the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and are viewable at http://www.dhs.gov/e-verify and http://www.youtube.com/ushomelandsecurity.

DHS reports that more than 192,000 participating employers currently use E-Verify at more than 705,000 worksites nationwide to electronically verify their workers’ employment eligibility. Since October 1, 2009, E-Verify has processed more than six million queries.

Additional Resources: The announcement, a related fact sheet, the Memorandum of Agreement between USCIS and the Department of Justice (PDF)