Under this new pilot project, Iowa employers may enter into a voluntary agreement with the INS to help establish a speedier, more accurate confirmation of employment eligibility. According to Grassley, Iowa was chosen as a test site for the new Machine-Readable Document Pilot because of the state's technologically advanced identification systems, including drivers' licenses.
"To Iowa employers' advantage, this new system will make it easier to comply with the law and avoid fines and other sanctions if an illegal worker is hired," said Grassley. "At the same time, it will afford better protections for legal immigrants and Iowa citizens by putting in place a more effective system to prevent illegal aliens from slipping through the employment line."
To volunteer, Grassley said that Iowa employers may obtain an application form from their local INS office in Sioux City, Cedar Rapids or Des Moines. When a Memorandum of Understanding is approved between the INS and an employer, the standard I-9 Forms would remain in place. However, all new employees would be subject to the electronic confirmation process.
For those who enroll, Grassley said the INS has pledged to confirm an employee's eligibility within a maximum of 10 days. The INS and Social Security Administration will provide verification of eligibility at no cost to employers.
As a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley also expanded his efforts to push for congressional accountability in last year's immigration reform package. As adopted, his amendment requires all Iowa congressional offices to comply with the electronic pilot project once Iowa employers are signed up and on board.
"Members of Congress won't know the impact on small business and other employers if they aren't required to comply with laws we pass onto them," said Grassley. "Tasting the same medicine is the best way for Congress to understand the application of law."
Grassley said that final integration of the pilot project is subject to technical applicability. To participate, employers will need a personal computer with a modem and a touch-one telephone number. The machine required to read the identification documents has not yet been determined.
As directed by last year's immigration law, the INS is launching three new pilot projects to improve the effectiveness of establishing employment eligibility in the United States. Employers in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois may elect in a new Basic Pilot. Only Iowa employers are eligible for the Machine-Readable Document Pilot.
Grassley worked from start-to-finish on the 1996 immigration reform bill from his position on the Judiciary immigration subcommittee. As part of the bill, Grassley won passage of amendments to empower local police to take action against illegal immigration in their own communities and to keep the resources of religious charities and non-profits free to directly help those in need. Grassley also helped to incorporate into the new law an amendment which requires a minimum of 10 INS officers in each of the 50 states.