The Obama administration is about to add more personal information to E-Verify, an immigration enforcement tool that is vulnerable to fake, stolen or borrowed documents.
The administration is confirming that it will add drivers license data from the state of Mississippi to the E-Verify data base this week. 80% of job applicants use a drivers license to establish their identity when filling out I-9 Forms.
Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, has been under attack for the deficiencies in the program. They have tried to enhance the program by adding photos from U.S. passports, green cards given to legal permanent residents and work permits. But those only cover a small amount of workers.
“This initiative is a major step forward in allowing (Citizenship and Immigration Services) to more effectively combat identity theft and protect against fraud in the employment verification process,” Wright said. Only data such as birth dates and driver’s license numbers will be shared by Mississippi, not photos.
