Senator Sessions Speaks Common Sense on E-Verify

From FAIR's Government Relations team

Earlier today, Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a true immigration reformer and the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, gave a speech on the Senate floor about the critical E-Verify program, a voluntary program that allows employers to verify that new hires are legally authorized to work in the United States. Senator Sessions stated his support for making E-Verify permanent. Senator Sessions also reminded his colleagues that a long-term extension of E-Verify passed the House by a vote of 407-2 last year.

Senator Sessions explained how Congressional leaders thwarted efforts to include an E-Verify amendment as part of President Obama's stimulus bill. Congressional leaders defeated an amendment that would have required businesses that get stimulus money to use the program to ensure that Stimulus jobs go to American citizens and not illegal aliens. Senator Sessions also detailed the Obama Administration's record on E-Verify. The Obama Administration has repeatedly delayed implementation of the rule requiring Federal contractors, businesses that get taxpayer money, to use this system.

Senator Sessions said (at 9:50 of the video): "What I am afraid may happen is that we will have, through maneuverings and chicanery, actions taken to block [a vote to extend E-Verify]. If the Democratic leadership here in the Senate blocks a vote on [extending E-Verify] that can only be taken as their position that we should not extend E-Verify and that we should not make it apply to government contractors. It cannot be interpreted any other way.... Everybody knows what the issue is." To watch Senator Sessions' video, click here.