Linda Sánchez Statement on the Legal Workforce Act (Sept 15 2011)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Linda Sánchez released the following statement regarding the Legal Workforce Act, which the House Judiciary Committee began considering today. The Legal Workforce Act would require employers to use an electronic employment eligibility verification system (E-Verify) to establish the immigration status of employees. Bloomberg Government estimates that mandatory E-Verify will cost all employers $2.7 billion every year, and puts the bill for small businesses at $2.6 billion each year.

"The Legal Workforce Act is the wrong bill at the wrong time. It costs too much and doesn't help create jobs. The bill does nothing to detect unauthorized workers, is subject to misuse and fraud, and will cause U.S. citizens to lose their jobs. On top of that, inaccuracies in the electronic employment eligibility verification system would mistakenly flag millions of U.S. citizens and legal workers.

"Enacting the E-Verify program would cost almost $3 billion a year and adds unnecessary red tape for employers and small businesses. If the Wall Street Journal slams a Republican bill as having ‘major economic costs at a time when the U.S. needs more investment and jobs,' it's the wrong bill.

"We need to create jobs and support our small businesses. The Legal Workforce Act would achieve the exact opposite, because it's too costly and unfairly hurts small businesses."

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