DHS Proposes To Expand E-Verify Monitoring and Compliance Efforts
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ Verification Division has created a Monitoring and Compliance (M&C) Branch, which will seek to “identify potential cases of misuse, abuse, discrimination, breach of privacy, or fraudulent use of SAVE [Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements] and E-Verify.”
The M&C Branch is developing detailed procedures for both monitoring verification transactions and performing compliance activities on defined non-compliant behaviors. For example, DHS notes, with respect to the misuse of Social Security numbers, M&C will identify when a single social security number is used multiple times for employment authorization verifications through E-Verify. DHS acknowledges that it would not be uncommon for a single individual to be verified several times through E-Verify because one person may hold multiple jobs or change jobs frequently, but it would be unusual for a single individual to hold 30 or 40 jobs simultaneously. M&C has developed procedures for identifying when a certain threshold number of verifications of a single SSN would be likely to indicate misuse. If this threshold is met, M&C may contact or visit an employer to research the issue and determine if there is a system problem the Verification Division needs to correct; a user misunderstanding that requires additional training for the employer; or potentially fraudulent activity that may need to be reported to a law enforcement agency. Information also may be shared with other government agencies.
The management of compliance activities and storage of the supporting information will be handled by the Compliance Tracking and Management System (CTMS). Activities that will be monitored may include:
- Termination of an employee because he receives a tentative nonconfirmation (TNC);
- Failure of an employer to notify DHS, as required by law, when an employee who receives a final nonconfirmation (FNC) is not terminated;
- Verification of existing employees (as opposed to new hires);
- Verification of job applicants, rather than new employees (pre-screening);
- Selectively using E-Verify or SAVE for verifications based on foreign appearance, race/ethnicity, or citizenship status;
- Failure to post the notice informing employees of participation in E-Verify;
- Failure to use E-Verify, consistently or at all, once registered;
- Failure of a SAVE agency to initiate additional verification when necessary;
- Unauthorized searching and use of information by a SAVE agency user; and
- Fraudulent use of visas, permits, and other DHS documents by SAVE users.
DHS also notes that employers are required to post notification of their participation in E-Verify conspicuously for their employees. This notification provides the employees with information concerning their rights and responsibilities regarding E-Verify, including contact information. M&C compliance activities on this front most likely would occur based on a complaint or hotline report, or during a compliance visit researching other potential noncompliance. M&C might also identify potential noncompliance from media reports or tips from law enforcement agencies.
The related proposed rule (PDF).
The Privacy Act notice (PDF)
