CQ
Published: 05-13-08
A House hearing Tuesday did little to relieve the tension between lawmakers on both sides of the immigration debate merely spotlighting differences over a system to verify the legal status of workers and job applicants.
Rep. Heath Shuler D-N.C. told the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security that Congress should act on his enforcement-oriented bill before the Internet-based E-Verify system expires in November.
Shuler’s bill would make the program mandatory for all employers.
The system which allows employers to check employees’ work eligibility by verifying their Social Security numbers has been around since 1996 but it is voluntary in all states except Arizona which enacted a state law Jan. 1 requiring all employers to use the system.
But other lawmakers said making the system mandatory would pose unnecessary complications for the Social Security Administration which would have to deal with backlogs and errors.
The Homeland Security Department meanwhile is moving forward with a proposed rule requiring employers to verify whether employees who provide Social Security numbers that don’t match federal records are legally eligible to work in the United States.
The hearings that began Tuesday reflect a careful attempt by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi D-Calif. to maintain some semblance of control and keep the peace with two crucial constituencies — “Blue Dog” Democrats interested in get-tough immigration legislation and Hispanic Caucus members who want no immigration enforcement legislation to move unless it also advances a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants already living and working in the United States.
But it was apparent from testimony and remarks by various members that her goal would be difficult to achieve.
