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Oakland official wants to use illegal worker database
May 8th, 2009
Jennifer Chambers / The Detroit News
Friday, May 8, 2009 Pontiac -- An Oakland County commissioner wants the county to start using a controversial government database to ferret out illegal immigrants on the job.
Jim Runestad, R-Waterford, introduced a resolution Thursday requiring all contractors and subcontractors doing business with the county to use E-Verify, a federal online program, to demonstrate that they are employing only legal workers.
"It is unconscionable to think that the practice of hiring illegal workers continues in light of the current economic climate. We have a number of legal workers who need jobs. It is not right that some companies continue this practice without penalty," said Runestad, a first-term commissioner.
E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of new workers.
More than a dozen county residents spoke at the Board of Commissioners meeting in support of Runestad's proposal, including Jim Thienel of Waterford Township.
"The real question here is will the Oakland County commissioners turn their backs on struggling workers in the county who are eager to fill jobs now occupied by illegal aliens?" Thienel asked.
Runestad failed to get the board to waive its rules and vote on the resolution Thursday before the matter was discussed in committee. The issue was sent to the general government committee, whose members will debate the resolution June 1.
There are numerous critics of the E-Verify system, including the American Civil Liberties Union, which says the program has several well-documented failings.
Commissioner John Scott said he would likely support the resolution, but learned that E-Verify had accuracy problems and was set to be replaced with a new system.
Runestad said 96.1 percent of qualified employees are cleared automatically by E-Verify and 99.6 percent of all work-authorized employees are verified without receiving a tentative nonconfirmation or having to take any type of corrective action.
Contact Jennifer Chambers at the Detroit News jchambers@detnews.com (248) 647-7402
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