Following the passage of a new law in the Florida state legislature that would require employers of 25 employees or more to step up requirements to check the immigration status of workers, Democratic Bronx Assemblyman Kenny Burgos (A.D. 85) and Democratic State Sen. Jessica Ramos (S.D. 13), who represents parts of Queens, released a statement on Monday, May 9, condemning the move.

 

According to reporting by the Tampa Bay Times, part of the new bill requires all businesses with 25 or more employees to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of workers. Since 2021, such businesses have been required to use E-Verify or what is known as an I-9 form.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), E-Verify is a web-based system through which employers electronically confirm the employment eligibility of their employees, and was authorized under the “Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act” (IIRIRA) of 1996.

 

According to DHS, in the E-Verify process, employers create [employee] cases based on information taken from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. E-Verify then electronically compares that information to records available to the DHS and the Social Security Administration (SSA). According to DHS, the employer usually receives a response within a few seconds either confirming the employee’s employment eligibility or indicating that the employee needs to take further action to complete the case.

 

“Make no mistake, Ron DeSantis’ e-verify requirement is an attack on the immigrant community,” the New York lawmakers wrote in response to the Florida bill’s passage. Burgos represents parts of the South Bronx including Longwood, Harding Park, Clason Point, Soundview and Rikers Island. “It’s telling that this labor-regulation was passed as part of a series of anti-immigration legislation. Requiring the use of the e-verify system goes against the moral fabric of our nation. It discourages immigrants from making a living and incites xenophobia.”

 

According to the Tampa Bay Times article, the bill also cracks down on people who bring migrants who enter the country illegally into Florida and mandates the collection of data about whether hospital patients are in the country legally.

 

Burgos and Ramos continued, “This system has also proved to be flawed. Using e-verify to check the employment authorization status only creates space for prejudice, unsafe worksites, and an implicit bias towards a community that contributes extensive labor and growth in our state. As we represent one of the largest immigrant communities in the country, these circumstances are the harsh reality for a majority of the people who migrate to our country.”

 

They added, “Here in New York State, we are moving in the opposite direction from Gov. [Ron] DeSantis, and have introduced legislation (S1802/A568) that would prohibit employers from using the e-verify system to check the employment authorization status of a current or prospective employee, as well as prohibiting localities from passing ordinances requiring employers to use the e-verify system.”

 

 

A video describes E-Verify NextGen, described as a fully integrated Form I-9 and electronic verification process which provides employees with more control of their information, by enabling them to enter their own personal data and documentation. Video courtesy of the USCIS via YouTube 

 

Burgos and Ramos concluded, “This legislation has passed and been implemented successfully in Illinois. We hope New York will be the next state to show Gov. DeSantis what compassionate and effective governance looks like. Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature are trying to score cheap political points with this foolish legislation, but it will come back to bite them. When farms and the construction sector in Florida come to a halt, they will soon realize their state’s economic growth depends on the 20 percent of Florida’s population they chose to target.”

 

Meanwhile, on Friday, May 12, the entire New York City Democratic congressional delegation, led by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-02) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), sent a letter to the Biden administration, asking them to expedite work authorizations for asylum seekers.

 

The move comes amid reports that New York City is struggling to house asylum seekers. The federal lawmakers said many immigrants already in the U.S. are trapped in local shelters, unable to work legally for six months, due to a federal regulation that states that asylum seekers must wait 150 days to receive work authorization.

 

The letter urges U.S. President Joe Biden to eliminate the federal waiting period entirely, given what lawmakers said was the urgent need to grow the U.S. labor force, and to reduce the pressure on localities and charitable organizations serving asylum seekers following the expiration of Title 42.

 

According to reporting by the Associated Press, the U.S. is putting new restrictions in place at its southern border in efforts to stop migrants from any unauthorized crossings at the border and to encourage migrants instead to apply for asylum online through a new process. The changes come amid the end of coronavirus restrictions on asylum, effective Friday, May 12, that have allowed the U.S. to refuse entry to migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border for the past three years. The restrictions are known as Title 42, because the authority comes from Title 42 of a 1944 public health law allowing curbs on migration in the name of protecting public health.

 

 

“A shortfall of immigrants due to our restrictive immigration policies worsens widespread labor shortages and hobbles the U.S. economy at a time when more than 10 million jobs remain unfilled,” the letter from federal lawmakers read. “Cities and states across the country desperately need workers, and millions of people in this country deserve dignified labor and a chance at rebuilding their lives….Without work, many are forced to seek services from government and non-government groups, straining resources in a completely preventable manner,” the letter continued.

 

The letter, which can be read in full here, was signed by the full New York City delegation comprising U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8), U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, and Representatives Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Gregory Meeks (NY-5), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Nydia Velázquez (NY-7), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Yvette Clarke (NY-9) and Grace Meng (NY-6).

 

Norwood News recently reported on calls by advocates and health officials to expand healthcare coverage to immigrants, amid the State budget discussions. We also previously reported on proposals, since abandoned, by the Adams administration to house migrants at Orchard Beach, as well as a rally by immigrants calling for visa amnesty held amid a visit by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to The Bronx.

 

We also reported last year on an appeal by New York City Council of a court decision which aimed to stop a proposal to allow non-citizens from voting in municipal elections.