Give Legal Employers the Advantage

a race to the bottom in the labor market will irreversibly transform the country

Polls show that a large majority of American voters support strong enforcement of US immigration and labor laws. Employers, too, support enforcement, if they can be sure the laws will be applied equally and enforced consistently.

Without consistent enforcement of US immigration and labor laws many US employers face a harsh choice. They can break the law and hire persons unauthorized to work in the United States, or they can obey the law and be driven out of business by competitors who hire illegally.

No one should ever have to face such a choice. But after decades of on again, off again scattershot enforcement, many US employers feel forced into illegally hiring illegal aliens.

It's an unwelcome position for most employers. If they could be assured a level playing field, i.e., if they knew their competitors had to pay the same price for labor that they do, or face consequences, they'd gladly hire legally.

With the roll-out of the E-Verify program, the federal government has finally taken an important step toward leveling the playing field.

For most in the business community, it's a welcome step.

In a world in which five billion people live in countries poorer than Mexico, a race to the bottom in the labor market will irreversibly transform the country in critical and unpredictable ways. No responsible American—including responsible American employers—wants to saddle the next generation with the unknown consequences of such a reckless policy.

While it's in the interest of the business community to support the enforcement of US immigration and labor law, it must be admitted that there are also selfish short-sighted employers who place their own gain above every other consideration. Unfortunately, the greediest voices are often the loudest voices in Washington, DC.

It may be impossible to lead on the immigration issue in the best interests of the country from the nation's capital. It might be up to the American people to lead on this issue.

e-VeriFILE provides citizens with the tools to protect employers who want to play by the rules and preserve a livable country at the same time. Indeed, as the e-VeriFILE movement continues to grow, employers may find themselves in the happy position not only of acting like responsible, thoughtful citizens, but as the merchants preferred by another group of responsible, thoughtful citizens: the American consumer. When that happens, the competitive advantage goes to legal employers. And it's about time.