The city council of Centralia, Washington has approved a first vote on a bill to require businesses contracting with the city to use E-Verify.

The town won't implement the controversial new referendum calling for all local employers to use E-Verify and landlords to screen tenants. City officials are citing the ACLU lawsuit challenging the new law.

USCIS released its final rule on electronic I-9s nearly four years after it released an interim regulation. There are no earth-shattering changes. Employees only need now be provided a transaction receipt if they request it. Employers have a little more flexibility to choose the technology they want.

DHS appears to have either backtracked or inadvertently contradicted its recent statement that employers actually have a fourth day to complete the I-9.

The agency clarified that employers switching to an electronic I-9 system can keep its old records in a paper form if they want.

LawLogix has a helpful summary on its blog.

13 employers, $640,000 in fines.

From CCH:

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum (R) sent a letter to Governor Charlie Crist (I), on July 6, 2010, asking him to direct state agencies to use the federal government’s E-Verify system in the hiring of state workers. E-Verify is a web-based system that allows an employer, using information reported on an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States. “As one of Florida’s largest employers, state government should lead by example. I am requesting that you use your authority to direct state agencies under your supervision to use the E-Verify system as soon as possible to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires upon employment,” said the Attorney General. In his letter, McCollum also requested that Crist direct the Florida Department of Management Services to conduct a study on requiring all contractors who do business with the state to use E-Verify for all their employees.

Note that McCullum is a Republican candidate for Governor and Crist is an independent candidate for the US Senate.

The measure would apply to contractors. From the Denver Daily News:

Contractors hired by the city would have to verify the employment eligibility of all new hires under a proposed ordinance that got initial City Council approval yesterday.

The ordinance proposed by council members Chris Nevitt and Jeanne Faatz would require contractors and subcontractors hired by the city to use the federal E-verify program to ensure their new employees are not illegal immigrants. The Economic Development Committee passed the bill on a 4-1 vote, sending the measure to the full council for consideration.

From my friends at LawLogix and Greenberg Traurig:

Lawlogix Group, Inc., the leader in I-9 and E-Verify compliance and immigration case management software, today announced a critical new I-9 interpretation on its blog, www.electronici9.com, which was clarified by guest bloggers, Dawn Lurie and Kevin Lashus of the law firm Greenberg Traurig. Ms. Lurie and Mr. Lashus, widely considered to be leading experts on I-9 and E-Verify compliance issues, explain in detail how ICE will respect USCIS’ interpretation--giving employers what could be considered one extra day to complete Section 2 of the Form I-9. This sweeping change in I-9 protocol could have a significant impact on employers who are struggling to revamp their I-9 policies and implement comprehensive verification processes in light of recent enforcement initiatives.

After many years of differing opinions and interpretations, USCIS and ICE appear to agree that employers have three days, subsequent to the day of hire to complete section 2 of the Form I-9 and initiate the E-Verify case (hired Monday-complete by Thursday). “This actually all came about from the recent E-Verify Redesign trainings when the USCIS quietly ‘reminded’ employers that organizations have three days after the date of hire to open an E-Verify case,” explained Ms. Lurie. “USCIS also alluded to this four day or Thursday rule as covering the I-9 as well. This was certainly news to us.” Ms. Lurie and Mr. Lashus investigated further – making several phone calls to USCIS and ICE regarding this apparent shift in policy. Then, USCIS issued a public clarification confirming this “Thursday” rule on their E-Verify public website. On July 7th, the experts obtained critical confirmation from ICE (the agency responsible for enforcing I-9 rules) that they would also respect this 4-day interpretation. Although ICE and USCIS subsequently met to further discuss this issue, the change has yet to be publicized and most employers are still in the dark. “We urge the Department of Homeland Security to increase dialogue with the public sector, provide training, and develop a targeted I-9 education campaign after updating the M-274 employer handbook–with clear consistent direction for the smallest, as well as the largest, of U.S. employers,” said Ms. Lurie and Mr. Lashus.

From Southern California Public Radio:

Temecula is now the third Inland city in the past month to pass an ordinance cracking down on illegal immigrants and the businesses that hire them.

Businesses with one or more employee are now required to screen new hires through the E-Verify system, an otherwise voluntary program operated by the U.S. Department or Homeland Security. The E-Verify system enables employers to verify a worker’s immigration status and Social Security number.

Temecula’s decision on Tuesday to make its usage mandatory comes after a heated public hearing and dueling street protests.

Temecula, California's city council will vote on an E-Verify mandate on July 13th. If it passes, it would follow recently passed ordinances in Menifee and Lake Elsinore.

All South Carolina employers must now check the legal status of their workers using E-Verify or by checking for a South Carolina driver's license. The state is actively investigating employers already since the law has been phased in over the last couple of years.

The Utah employer sanctions law kicked in on July 1st and employers in the state are required to use E-Verify.

From the NY Times:

A crackdown on illegal immigrants, passed by the State Senate last month, has been scaled back. The House and the Senate on Thursday approved a less stringent version of the contentious plan, which would have required the state attorney general to set up a hot line for residents to anonymously report businesses suspected of hiring illegal immigrants. The compromise plan, adopted as an amendment to the state budget, only codifies existing state policies. But as part of sweeping budget cuts, the legislature also eliminated health care coverage for thousands of legal immigrants.

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