GAO Report Positive for E-Verify

by Jack Martin

The Government Accountability Office issued a report on the E-Verify program. That program allows employers to verify whether a new employee's SSN and identity documents correspond to information in the SSA and Homeland Security databases. The December 27, 2010 report identifies several recommendations for making the system less likely to create problems for persons who change their name or want to contest a finding that their documents do not correspond to information in the federal databases. The report notes recent improvements in the E-Verify system that have increased the initial confirmation accuracy rate to more than 97%. Nevertheless, past experience suggests that the defenders of illegal aliens will pounce on these recommendations to suggest that the system is not ready for expansion to a nationwide mandatory system. That argument is not sustained by the report and recommendations. Any who wish to familiarize themselves further on this issue should read at least the summary of the report, including the recommendations, at http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-146.