Bill requires Iowa businesses to verify employee immigration status

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Senate Republicans passed a bill that requires businesses to verify an employee’s immigration status through a federal program.

Senate File 108 passed by a vote of 30-17 on Wednesday afternoon at the Iowa Capitol. The bill requires employers to use the federal E-Verify program, which takes an individual’s employment eligibility form with the Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security. The program confirms if the individual is authorized for work in the United States.

“Imagine if you’re an employer and you obey the law. You only hire people that can legally be hired that are here in the country legally. But you’ve got to compete with the guy down the street that’s hiring people who work for cut wages,” said State Senator Julian Garrett, (R) District 11 from Warren County.

The bill allows members of the public to report businesses to Iowa Workforce Development. Senate Democrats are concerned that this type of reporting system will prompt false reports because of racial discrimination.

“Any member of the public to file a complaint with Iowa Workforce Development alleging an employer has hired someone illegally. That may be just because they don’t like how they look, because they see someone brown working on a roof, because they see someone brown working in the fields,” said State Senator Weiner, (D) District 45 from Iowa City.

“Talks about somebody filing false charges. Well, I guess you’ve got that risk with any kind of a law. It doesn’t happen very often in Iowa. Iowans aren’t like that,” said Sen. Garrett.

Sen. Garrett said 5,000 businesses in the state already use the E-Verify program.

The policy also creates penalties for businesses who knowingly hire unauthorized immigrants. Senate Democrats are concerned that the penalties may result in businesses not being able to operate in the state.

“Above all else, above our friends, above our businesses, above our employees, today is the day we send the message. We’re looking for you and we’re going to penalize you. Casey’s, we may run you out of the state of Iowa,” said State Senator Tony Bisignano, (D) District 15 from Des Moines.

The bill still needs to make it through the Iowa House before it is eligible to become law.