WASHINGTON, D.C. — Katie Britt announced the introduction of the Mandatory E-Verify Act of 2026, legislation that would permanently reauthorize the federal E-Verify program and require all employers in the United States to use it to confirm employment eligibility for workers.
According to Senator Britt’s office, the legislation aims to establish a nationwide standard for E-Verify, which is currently mandatory only in certain states and federal agencies. Supporters of the bill say the system helps prevent unauthorized employment and reduces incentives for illegal immigration.
The proposed legislation would also increase civil and criminal penalties for employers who knowingly hire individuals without legal work authorization, strengthen fraud prevention measures within the E-Verify system, and prohibit states from restricting employers from using the program.
“If you come to this country illegally, you shouldn’t be here to begin with, and you shouldn’t be working in the United States,” Senator Britt said in a statement. She added that the bill builds on recent Republican border security efforts by targeting what she described as one of the main incentives for illegal immigration.
The Immigration and Nationality Act already prohibits the employment of individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States. E-Verify was originally created during the administration of former President Bill Clinton as a voluntary system allowing employers to confirm worker eligibility electronically.
Senator Britt’s office cited recent estimates suggesting millions of undocumented immigrants are currently part of the American workforce. The office also noted that E-Verify was reportedly used more than 43 million times in 2025.
Senator Britt stated the legislation is intended to protect American workers by ensuring jobs go to individuals legally authorized to work in the country and by preventing wage suppression tied to illegal employment practices.
The bill is co-sponsored by several Republican senators, including Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, and Tommy Tuberville, among others.
Several immigration-focused organizations and advocacy groups have also voiced support for the proposal, including Federation for American Immigration Reform, NumbersUSA, Heritage Action, and the National Immigration Center for Enforcement.
Representatives from those organizations described the bill as a measure aimed at reducing illegal immigration, protecting American jobs, and strengthening immigration law enforcement.
The legislation will now move through the congressional process for committee consideration and potential debate in the Senate.
