A sweeping update to the United States’ employment verification system is raising alarms among immigrant workers and legal advocates, as new federal measures could lead to sudden job terminations without prior notice to affected employees.
This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rolled out a major change to E-Verify, the digital platform used by employers to confirm new hires’ legal authorization to work in the U.S. The new feature will now automatically notify employers when an employee’s work permit officially known as an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) has been revoked.
Crucially, these alerts will not be shared with the workers themselves, leaving them unaware of any change in their legal status until it potentially results in job loss.
The update, intended to bolster compliance with federal immigration law, is seen by critics as a potential backdoor mechanism for mass employment disruptions, particularly affecting immigrants under Temporary Protected Status (TPS), humanitarian parole, or the CHNV (Cuba-Haiti-Nicaragua-Venezuela) parole program. These categories have faced increased legal scrutiny and revocations following recent federal policy shifts and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling affirming the government’s authority to phase out certain protections.
A New Burden for Employers, A Silent Risk for Workers
Previously, there was no formal system to inform employers if an employee’s work permit was rescinded after hiring. Now, companies using E-Verify are expected to monitor status change reports in real time and take action if an employee no longer holds valid work authorization.
According to the DHS, employers are obligated to act on this information, meaning they could face penalties for continuing to employ unauthorized workers. However, the department also warned against discriminatory misuse of the tool, stating:
“Employers must not use E-Verify status change reports as a means of targeting or profiling workers based on national origin or immigration status. Violations may result in investigations under anti-discrimination laws.”
This leaves employers walking a legal tightrope facing penalties either for failing to act on revocation alerts, or for acting too aggressively and risking liability under the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provisions.
Worker Advocates Sound the Alarm
Labor rights groups and immigration attorneys have voiced concern that the lack of direct notification to workers could trigger a wave of silent terminations. Many immigrants in complex legal situations such as those awaiting asylum decisions or TPS renewals may not realize their status has changed until they are abruptly removed from payroll.
“This update introduces a dangerous power imbalance,” said one immigration lawyer. “The government knows. The employer knows. But the worker is left in the dark.”
With little recourse or time to respond, affected employees could find themselves unemployed overnight, without an opportunity to appeal or present updated documentation.
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