E-Verify before Council for second time
9:06 p.m. Monday, August 11, 2008
E-Verify is a free, federal program designed to make sure those who work in the United States are legally allowed to do so. It is the second time in two months the City Council is scheduled to look at the controversial program and this time it has more teeth.
"I don't know why they have any opposition," said Councilman Jack Woelfel of those who oppose his legislation.
In June, Woelfel removed a proposed ordinance from the Council's agenda that would have forced all new workers to be screened by the program. This time around, Woelfel proposes all new City workers be screened by the program and that companies that do business with the City screen their employees as well.
Topeka City Council Meeting
- Where: City hall, 215 SE 7th St. Room 255, Topeka
- Cost: Free
- Age limit: All ages
"It's thorough, it's fair, it's quick," Woelfel said. "It protects our jobs in our country for our workers."
Kansas Hispanic and Latino Affairs Commission Executive Director Steve Cisneros said E-Verify offers a faulty protection.
"The state's already taken a position," Cisneros said. "We had kind of voted down some immigration legislation and a lot of it was due to the technology not being there for E-Verify."
Cisneros said there are flaws in the database when people get married or have a last name change. In addition, he said according to the director of human resources for the City, there are no foreign-born city workers.
"Someone has to ask, is this something that you're doing to kind of divide a city," Cisneros said, "or is it something that we're really trying to solve a problem?"
Woelfel would say neither.
"It's just a pro-active move," Woelfel said. "I've been asked how many employees have we run into to cause this, and I know of none. Absolutely none."
The Council will dedicate part of its work session to the E-Verify program at its meeting Tuesday night.
Watch 49 News at 10 on Tuesday to see what happens.
See a previous report on E-Verify from Kendall Joes here.
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