Government Contracts Monitor

Obama Steps Up to the Plate for E-Verify, Confirms 9/8/09 Start-Date

July 10, 2009

The Obama Administration has finally and officially endorsed the rules requiring federal government contractors to use E-Verify – the previous administration’s immigration compliance system extensively covered in this blog.

Originally scheduled to go into effect in January 2009, the imposition of the system has been delayed four times, most recently on June 5 to allow the Obama Administration more time to reconsider the rule. Now, as part of an amendment to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) $43 billion 2010 budget proposed by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the program appears headed for a September 9, 2009 roll-out. By backing the E-Verify program – along with DHS’ decision to review work-site immigration enforcement policy – the Obama Administration seems to be taking a more balanced approach to immigration enforcement that establishes a new regulatory framework focused on collaboration with employers and a reliance on civil remedies instead of high-profile raids and prosecutions. 

However, a potential stumbling block remains the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s continued opposition to the program. According to the Washington Post, the Chamber has vowed to keep challenging the program in federal court.