HOUSE JUDICIARY VOTES AGAINST STATE ENFORCEMENT E-VERIFY - VICTORY FOR U.S. CHAMBER of COMMERCE & LA RAZA SUPREMACY DEMS

HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE VOTES AGAINST STATE ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY;

Mandatory E-Verify Bill Passes

Wednesday afternoon, the House Judiciary Committee disappointingly voted to preempt the authority of state and local governments to enforce immigration laws during the mark-up of Chairman Lamar Smith's mandatory E-Verify bill (H.R. 2885). The mark-up, which began last Thursday, resulted in the ultimate passage of Smith's bill out of the Committee in a 22-13 vote.

While FAIR has always supported mandatory E-Verify, we also urged members of the Judiciary Committee to strip and/or amend language in H.R. 2885 that would prevent state and local governments from enforcing immigration laws when the federal government refuses to do so. As introduced, Section 6 of the bill (entitled "Preemption") would strip away the authority of state and local governments to go after employers that hire illegal aliens.

In Committee Wednesday afternoon, the amendment to strike Section 6 (Am. #3) was offered by Rep. Howard Berman (D-CA) in what appeared to be an effort by Democrats to undermine the Chamber of Commerce's support for the bill. The Chamber of Commerce has lobbied hard for the inclusion of language that would bar state and local governments from enforcing immigration laws against employers. However, in a disappointing 16-18 vote, the Committee voted against the Berman Amendment. Democrats largely voted FOR the amendment while most Republicans voted AGAINST the amendment.

Check FAIR's website for the official vote tallies on the Berman amendment and final passage as soon they become available.