Forum Publications

E-Verify: States Bear the Economic Burden

July 05, 2011

In the 112th Congress, legislation has been introduced to mandate the use of the E-Verify electronic worker verification system nationwide outside of an effort at broader immigration reform.  Several states this year considered such legislation, and rejected it, in the face of business opposition.  A mandate to use E-Verify without providing a path to legal status for its largely undocumented workforce would be particularly devastating for the U.S. agricultural sector.  States that have adopted...

In the States: Stepping Into the Federal Void

March 25, 2011

As many state legislative sessions draw to a close, momentum for passage of laws similar to Arizona’s SB 1070 has slowed.  This has been in part thanks to the opposition of business leaders who are concerned about what these laws may do to the business climate in their states, and to that of law enforcement leaders who are concerned that getting involved in federal immigration enforcement will detract from their ability to keep their communities safe.  Additionally, even supporters of such laws...

Deficits, Lawsuits, Diminished Public Safety: Your State Can’t Afford SB 1070

December 30, 2010

This report looks at the legal, political, and economic cost incurred by Arizona in the wake of the passage of SB 1070.  It also discusses the threat SB 1070 poses to public safety in Arizona communities.  A number of states are considering similar legislation, and this report takes a look at the political environment in those states.