A bill that would expand the E-Verify employment verification system and require its use by all employers was reintroduced in the House on May 26. Introduced by Rep. Health Shuler (D-NC) and cosponsored by 37 others, the bipartisan Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2000) would create a four-year phase-in period during which all employers would eventually be required to use E-Verify to check the employment eligibility of their potential and current hires.

Within one year of the bill’s implementation, the federal government, federal contractors, and large employers (those with more than 250 employees) would be required to use E-Verify to check an applicant’s authorization to work in the U.S. Smaller employers would be phased into the system more gradually. Companies employing between 100 and 250 employees would be required to use E-Verify within two years; those with at least 30 but few than 100 employees would have three years to comply with the program; all other employers would have to be in compliance within four years of the bill’s enactment. In addition, all employers would be required to verify the employment eligibility of their current employees within four years of the bill’s enactment.

The SAVE Act also includes measures to enhance border security, and provides for increased enforcement of existing immigration laws.

Various versions of this legislation have been introduced in the House and Senate since 2007, but all have failed to sufficiently advance.