Prohibits the employment of unauthorized aliens and requires employers to use E-Verify program.
The bill imposes significant consequences for employers who fail to comply with the E-Verify requirement. Those found to have knowingly or intentionally hired unauthorized aliens will face various penalties including termination of employment for those workers, a probationary period, and the possibility of license suspension or revocation. A random auditing program will be put in place to ensure compliance, further increasing the enforcement mechanism for labor laws in the state.
Assembly Bill A2720 aims to prohibit the employment of unauthorized aliens in New Jersey and mandates that employers verify employee eligibility through the E-Verify program. This automated system, operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is designed to prevent unauthorized individuals from being employed. The bill defines employers and employees, establishing strict criteria for what constitutes unauthorized employment under both state and federal law.
A major point of contention surrounding A2720 includes concerns over its impact on small businesses and the potential for increased legal scrutiny. Employers with previous violations of the E-Verify requirement face escalating penalties, which critics argue could unfairly impact smaller businesses lacking the resources to navigate such regulations. Furthermore, the bill raises questions about due process and the ramifications of mistakenly categorizing employees as unauthorized due to errors in the E-Verify system.