Second Round of E-Verify Mandates to Kick in for Medium Sized Companies

E-Verify is a free, Internet-based system which gives employers the ability to confirm the legal working status of a new hire in a matter of seconds. MPB's Lawayne Childrey reports in today's tough economic climate the E-Verification system may be more important than ever.

An estimated 20,000 illegal immigrants are living in Mississippi. Sal Barrientos is a special agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It's his job to make sure companies are verifying the legal status of new workers through programs like E-Verify.

“We’re still seeing the hiring of undocumented workers, it’s still a problem. And this is why as far as E-Verify we wanna make sure the American worker, the foreign national who has authorization to work is protected. You know it helps the economy function.”

“It’s very hard right now for some people when they lose a job.”

That's Leanne Brady, Senior attorney for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security.

“And I think that if they are seeing that these jobs are going to individuals that they think may not be legal immigrants or may not be authorized to work that is a real morale killer for people. And I think if they think that our state is doing something to try to combat this problem I think it helps the public at large to see that we value those individuals who are authorized to be here and that we want them to find jobs in Mississippi.”

As of July 1st all Mississippi employers with 100 or more workers must comply with the E-Verify system.
Since MDES began E-Verification last summer , Brady says they have screened more than 68 thousand possible employee's at local WIN Job centers. For MPB news, I'm Lawayne Childrey.