ACLU Testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law

Regarding Electronic Employment Verification Systems

Chairwoman Lofgren, Ranking Member King and Subcommittee Members, on behalf of the American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”), America’s oldest and largest civil liberties organization, and its more than half a million members and 53 affiliates across the country, we are pleased to submit this testimony. The ACLU writes to oppose any legislative proposal that would impose a mandatory, electronic employment eligibilityverification pre-screening system on America’s workforce. Under any name, the original Basic Pilot Employment Verification System (also knownas E-Verify, hereinafter “Basic Pilot”) or another mandatory employment eligibility prescreening system would impose unacceptable burdens onAmerica’s workers, businesses and society at large without resolving America’s undocumented immigration dilemma. The costs associated withthis program cannot be denied and cannot be overstated; any benefits are speculative, at best.