Source Notes #12 (Academic Research)

Title: Deciphering the Numbers on E-Verify’s Accuracy

Summary: This is a report that examines the accuracy and errors involved with E-Verify put out by the Immigration Policy Center.

Topic: Should employers be held accountable by the Department of Homeland Security for hiring illegal immigrants?

Category: Academic Research

What is it? Online report
Publication Information: Feb. 11, 2009
Location: http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/images/File/factcheck/Deciphering%20the%20Numbers%20on%20E-Verify%20Accuracy.pdf
Accessed: 2/17/09

Support:
Westat evaluation, Social Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security,  MCL Enterprises, Intel corporation, American Council on International Personnel, Letter from Representative Michael R. McNulty and Charles B. Rangel to Democratic Colleagues

Due to errors in the SSA and DHS databases legal working citizens may be denied employment–this is called a false negative error or a tenative non conformation (TNC’s).  A false positive error in the databases may authorize an illegal immigrant to work.  E-Verify cannot identify counterfeit or stolen identification documents.  When people contest a TNC, the Westat evaluation found that only a small population can actually resolve the problem.  The Intel Corporation reported 12% TNC’s of workers in 2008.  MCL Enterprises reported 14% TNC’s and 75% TNC’s of foreign born workers.

Audience and Agenda:
The Immigration Policy Center is the research branch of the American Immigration Law Foundation.  The IPC seeks out nationally recognized scholars as research sources and guest authors.  Their staff is often used to testify before Congress and serve as policy makers and immigration experts.

Usefulness:
This is a very useful report because it breaks down E-Verify with factual numbers and error rates.  The idea behind E-Verify makes logical sense, but only if the electronic verification system works accurately.  This report provides evidence that E-Verify is not ready for nationwide  implementation.

Works cited:
Google, Immigration Policy Center, American Immigration Law Foundation