College Employment Accountability Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2367
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-16T18:20:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The College Employment Accountability Act (H.R. 2367) aims to link federal funding for higher education to immigration compliance by prohibiting institutions of higher education (IHEs, such as colleges and universities) from employing unauthorized workers—individuals without legal permission to work in the U.S.—and requiring them to use a federal system to verify employee eligibility.
Key Provisions
- Ineligibility for Federal Funds: Adds a new section to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) stating that any IHE found violating employment laws under the Immigration and Nationality Act (specifically, section 274A, which bans hiring unauthorized workers) cannot receive federal student aid (funds for student loans, grants, etc.) or institutional aid (direct grants to schools).
- Mandatory E-Verify Participation: Amends the HEA to require all IHEs to enroll in and use the E-Verify program—a free federal online system run by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Social Security Administration—to check the work eligibility of new hires. This is a condition for participating in Title IV programs, which include most federal student aid.
- DHS Monitoring and Reporting: DHS must check IHE compliance with E-Verify every six months and notify the Secretary of Education within 10 days if an IHE is either hiring unauthorized workers or not using E-Verify. This creates a mechanism for enforcement.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a direct tie between immigration enforcement and higher education funding, which was not previously required under the HEA.
- Mandates E-Verify use for IHEs seeking Title IV eligibility, expanding beyond current voluntary participation for many employers.
- Establishes routine DHS oversight of IHEs, shifting some responsibility from the Department of Education to DHS for immigration-related checks.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases workload for DHS in monitoring and reporting on thousands of IHEs, potentially requiring new resources. The Department of Education may need to adjust funding processes to incorporate these notifications, possibly leading to audits or funding suspensions.
- On Citizens and Institutions: IHEs could face financial penalties, including loss of billions in federal aid, prompting stricter hiring practices and possible layoffs or reduced services. Students relying on federal aid might see disruptions if their schools lose eligibility, affecting access to affordable education. Faculty and staff at non-compliant IHEs could face job insecurity.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may indirectly affect international students or faculty by heightening scrutiny on IHE hiring, potentially influencing U.S. appeal as a study destination.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Institutions of Higher Education: Primary targets, as they must comply to access federal funds; non-compliance risks severe financial consequences.
- Students: Especially those using federal aid, who could lose support if their IHE is deemed ineligible.
- Employees at IHEs: Faculty, staff, and applicants, including authorized immigrants, who may face more rigorous background checks.
- Federal Agencies: DHS (enforcement and monitoring) and Department of Education (funding decisions).
- Unauthorized Workers: Indirectly affected through reduced job opportunities at IHEs.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens enforcement of existing immigration laws by conditioning federal education funds on compliance, but could lead to lawsuits over whether this creates an undue burden on IHEs or violates due process in funding denials.
- Constitutional: Raises questions under the Spending Clause (Article I, Section 8), which allows Congress to attach conditions to federal funds, but courts might scrutinize if these conditions are overly coercive or unrelated to education's core purpose.
- Political: Aligns with broader immigration reform efforts to deter unauthorized employment, potentially sparking debates on federal overreach into state-run or private education, workforce diversity, and economic impacts on higher education.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-26: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- College Employment Accountability Act — issued 2025-03-26 — PDF (3 pages)