Congress·In Committee·S. 1151

Sen. Grassley Introduces Bill Requiring All U.S. Employers to Use E-Verify

Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act

12 months ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

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Law

Key Points

This bill would make E-Verify a permanent and mandatory tool for every employer in the United States. While many businesses use it voluntarily now, this law would require all companies to check the legal work status of every new hire and existing employee within one year of the bill passing.
From policy text
“all employers in the United States shall participate in E-Verify, with respect to all employees recruited, referred, or hired by such employer on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act.”
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The plan significantly increases the fines for businesses that hire people not authorized to work in the U.S. For a first-time mistake, fines would start at $2,500 per worker, and repeat offenders could face fines up to $25,000. Companies that repeatedly break the law could also be banned from getting federal contracts for five years.
From policy text
“the Administrator of General Services shall include the person or entity on the List of Parties Excluded From Federal Procurement for 5 years.”
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Employers would be required to re-check the status of current employees who have never been through the E-Verify system. They would also have to re-verify any worker whose work permit is about to expire. If the system shows a worker isn't eligible, the employer would have to fire them immediately.
From policy text
“Each person or other entity participating in E-Verify shall use the E-Verify confirmation system to reverify the work authorization of any individual not later than 3 days after the date on which such individual's employment authorization is scheduled to expire”
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To help small businesses in rural areas or places without reliable internet, the government would set up a special program. This would allow these owners to use public internet terminals to run their required background checks.
From policy text
“the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall establish a demonstration program that assists small businesses in rural areas or areas without internet capabilities to verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees solely through the use of publicly accessible internet terminals.”
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The bill creates a new Employer Compliance Inspection Center to audit businesses and ensure they are following the rules. It also encourages different government agencies, like the IRS and Social Security Administration, to share data to catch identity theft and fraud more easily.
From policy text
“There is established, within Homeland Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Employer Compliance Inspection Center”
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ImmigrationLabor EmploymentCriminal Justice

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Mar 26, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mar 26, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 37 days of enactment

Critical employers designated by DHS must begin using E-Verify

Companies deemed essential to national security would be among the first required to verify all workers, within about 30 days of being designated. Workers at these companies would face immediate eligibility checks.

1 year after enactment

All U.S. employers must use E-Verify for every new hire and existing employee

Every business in the country would need to run electronic work eligibility checks on all new hires and on any current employees never previously verified. Workers who fail the check would be terminated. Small businesses in rural areas could use public internet terminals through a special demonstration program.

Within 1 year of enactment

Interagency data-sharing program launches to identify unauthorized workers

The IRS, Social Security Administration, DHS, and Treasury would begin sharing information like no-match letters and earnings records to find people working without authorization. This could lead to more enforcement actions against both employers and workers.

Related News

4 articles

Bloomberg Law·11 months ago

States to Join Immigrant Worker Crackdown With E-Verify Bills

Sen. Chuck Grassley and seven other Senate Republicans introduced the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act (S. 1151) in March 2025. The bill seeks to mandate E-Verify use nationwide, though similar proposals have historically faced resistance from industry groups.

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USA Today·6 months ago

Hyundai Battery-Factory Raid Reveals New Trump Target: Employers Who Hire Illegal Workers

A significant workplace enforcement operation at a Georgia battery factory highlights the administration's shift toward penalizing employers. The raid comes as Republican lawmakers push for the Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act to make work eligibility checks mandatory.

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Florida Politics·11 months ago

House passes bill to expand E-Verify during emotional debate on immigration

Florida's House approved legislation to expand E-Verify mandates to all private businesses, regardless of size. Proponents argue it enforces federal law, while opponents fear economic damage to the state's agriculture and construction sectors.