While Congress remains gridlocked on the immigration crisis, Florida's Republican governor forges ahead with reforms
"It’s about fairness for lawful immigrants and native-born workers, and it’s about public safety.”
On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared that the state would work to implement e-verify requirements in the Sunshine State.
The governor explained that “it’s long-standing federal law that, in order to be eligible for employment, you have to be here lawfully. Maybe you’re a U.S. citizen, maybe you’re a lawful permanent resident, maybe you’re on a visa, whatever. But you have to fit in one of those legally prescribed categories.”
E-Verify is a federal, internet-based system meant to help employers ensure that they only hire people legally eligible to work in the United States by checking records against government databases.
In a statement supporting the governor’s initiative, Florida Senator Joe Gruters said that the proposed E-Verify requirement “will protect Florida workers against unfair job competition and wage depression.”