A major update to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) E-Verify system is sending shockwaves through immigrant communities and workplaces across the country.
The newly introduced “status change report” could quietly end employment for thousands without warning.
Here are five key facts immigrants in the U.S. need to know about this game-changing policy:
1. New E-Verify Alerts Only Notify Employers; Not Workers
The latest feature in the E-Verify system automatically flags employers if an immigrant worker’s Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is revoked.
However, the alert never reaches the worker directly. This creates a high-risk situation where employees might be dismissed without ever knowing their legal status changed.
2. Sudden Job Termination Is a Real Threat
Previously, there was no structured process to alert employers about post-hire changes in work authorization. Now, employers are notified in real time and many may respond with immediate terminations if replacement documents aren’t readily available.
Immigration advocates warn this could trigger widespread job losses, especially for those in limbo under asylum claims, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or humanitarian parole programs.
3. The Move Aligns With a Supreme Court Ruling
This policy shift follows a recent Supreme Court decision granting the federal government power to end specific immigration protections like TPS and the CHNV parole program.
As a result, many immigrants with seemingly valid documents may unknowingly fall out of status and become vulnerable to job loss under the new E-Verify feature.
4. Employers Face Tougher Compliance Standards
Businesses enrolled in E-Verify now carry increased responsibility. They must act on alerts promptly or risk penalties for keeping unauthorized workers on payroll. Yet, the DHS also warns against using the system to discriminate or unfairly target workers based on immigration status or nationality. Employers must balance legal compliance with ethical enforcement.
5. Immigrant Workers Are Left in the Dark
Perhaps the most troubling part of this update is the silence: workers aren’t notified. This leaves them blindsided potentially discovering an issue only when they’re suddenly out of a job.
Experts urge “immigrant employees to stay on top of their case status, monitor renewal timelines, and consult immigration attorneys if there’s any doubt about their EAD validity.”
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