Bills would require Web search to verify workers

PROVIDENCE – Legislation filed in the General Assembly would deter employment of illegal immigrants by requiring employers to verify the legal citizenship of all new hires over the Internet.
The bills, filed by Woonsocket Democrats Sen. Marc A. Cote and Rep. Jon D. Brien, would require employers to use the federal E-Verify Program. The system is already being used on a voluntary basis by approximately 77 Rhode Island employers and 30,000 firms nationwide.
Under the system, employers enter into an electronic form a new employee’s name, date of birth and Social Security number or immigration documentation. The information is then submitted to the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. The system, which also allows employers to compare photographs on immigration documents, generally produces results in less than 20 seconds.