SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WTVO) — The Illinois Senate has passed a bill that would prevent employers from firing an immigrant worker if their records don’t match the federal E-Verify system.
Federal immigration law requires employers to verify the legal work status of their employees through the E-Verify system, which compares information from an employee’s I-9 form to the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to confirm eligibility.
If a discrepancy is found, many employers terminate employees, according to Sen. Javier Cervantes (D-Chicago), who introduced Senate Bill 2339.
The new bill prevents Illinois employers from firing an employee solely based on a "no match" letter from the federal government.
Cervantes argued that in the cases where a migrant marries and changes their name, they could be flagged with a "no match" notice.
Under the legislation, employers would be required to notify their employees within 5 days of receiving the notice, and establish a procedure to resolve violations. It would also enable the employee to retain an attorney to act on their behalf in meetings between and employer and employee.
As the son of a single immigrant mother, I know firsthand how committed immigrant workers are to doing good work and creating a better life for themselves and their families. Their place in the workforce should not come into question due to misfiled paperwork,” said Cervantes. “I am proud this bill will ensure immigrant workers can receive support from legal experts if their E-Verify status is called into question, and help them sort out discrepancies before losing their livelihood over a misunderstanding.”
"All workers should be protected from unjust treatment,” he added. “With this initiative, immigrant workers will have more protections against retaliatory actions, and be able to receive support from legal advocates through the confusing E-Verify process.”
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April 11, 2025 at 08:59AM
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