Illegal immigration has been off the radar as of late. But Rep. Steve King (Iowa-05) recently encouraged a long-term extension of E-Verify, a program which makes it easier for employers to know that their workers are legally authorized. King is the highest ranking Republican on the House Immigrations Subcommitee and holds a vested interest in the program. A six-month extension of E-Verify was included in the omnibus bill passed this week but a late Senate vote blocked E-Verify from continuing for five more years.

"“In these tough economic times, no American jobs should go to illegal immigrants,” King said. “E-Verify is a quick and easy system that shuts off the illegal worker jobs magnet and provides employers with a way to verify that their employees are legal to work. Congress needs a long-term extension of E-Verify to give employers the ability to plan for and use E-Verify in the years ahead.”

E-Verify is a free, voluntary program and studies reveal that employee immigration status is revealed almost immediately.