A bill to mandate every Iowa employer to verify a potential employee’s legal immigration status is advancing in the Iowa State Senate. State Senator Julian Garrett is the sponsor of the bill, and he tells KNIA News he thinks there is widespread support across the aisle for this bill, and it’s fair to all.

“I think it’s a good bill for both employers and employees that are law-abiding people who are here legally and obey the law, because it is unfair to both of them who have to compete with those offering and taking substandard wages, so I think it’s a good thing.”

The bill will require every Iowa employer to use the federal E-Verify system to make sure each employee is legally in the country and eligible to work. The bill has passed through the Judiciary Committee and is up for vote in the Senate.