On February 10, the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement held a hearing, “E-Verify – Preserving Jobs for American Workers,” in which it considered whether to make E-Verify mandatory for all employers. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R–TX ) favors the idea, as does the Subcommittee’s Chairman, Representative Elton Gallegly (R–CA). In introducing his reasons for supporting the expansion of E-Verify electronic employment verification program, Representative Smith stated: “With unemployment over 9% now for 21 months, jobs are scarce and families are worried. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, seven million people are working in the U.S. illegally. These jobs should go to legal workers.”  Continue reading this entry at Littler's Global Immigration Counsel.