Iowa State Senator Julian Garrett, who represents Warren County and District 13, is proposing that the E-Verify system to check the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States be made mandatory to all Iowa employers. Garrett tells KNIA News the program run by Homeland Security is voluntary, and there are a lot of employers who don’t currently use the system.

“I’ve always felt that it is unfair to both law-abiding employers and law-abiding citizens to compete with companies hiring those in the country illegally. It is unfair for employees to compete, because lower wages are often offered because of more competition, and it is unfair for companies to have to keep up with the wage market. This bill would make it mandatory for all companies to have to E-Verify from now on.”

Garrett also said that currently federal law has harsh penalties for companies hiring those in the country illegally, and there is a guest-worker program if a business can’t find employees. For more information on the proposed bill, tune in to today’s Let’s Talk Indianola.