A federal district court in Missouri issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of a voter-approved law that would have required businesses in Springfield, MO to use E-Verify to confirm the work authorization of all employees. The law requires the city’s Finance Department to enforce its provisions by penalizing businesses for noncompliance. The city government has agreed to the injunction, and City Manager Greg Burris has said that the city has, “known all along there are portions of the ordinance that are both un-enforceable and illegal.” The push for mandatory E-Verify began with the Ozarks Minutemen, who initially pushed a petition through the Springfield City Council demanding that all private employers use E-Verify to check individuals’ work authorization.
Who knew that the birthplace of Route 66 and other famous historical events is now also at the center of the immigration debate with voters seeking mandatory E-Verify?! But, employers aren’t entirely out of the woods in Missouri. There is a state law mandating use of E-Verify if you are a public employer or are a business with a state contract or grant in excess of $5,000 or any business receiving state-administered or subsidized tax credit, tax abatement or loan from the state to participate in E-Verify or other federal work authorization program.