To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require all Federal contractors to participate in the E-verify program.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2641
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-01-08: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 8.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-26T20:05:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, H.R. 2641, aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by mandating that all federal contractors and their subcontractors use the E-Verify program—a free, online system run by the U.S. government to confirm whether new employees are authorized to work in the United States by checking their information against federal databases.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 402(e)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (a law focused on immigration enforcement).
- Adds a new requirement (subparagraph C) that every contractor working with executive or legislative branch agencies, and every subcontractor at any level, must choose to join E-Verify and follow its rules.
- Applies to all tiers of subcontractors, ensuring broad coverage in federal contracting chains.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Previously, participation in E-Verify for federal contractors was optional or limited to certain situations under the 1996 Act.
- This bill makes it mandatory for all federal contractors and subcontractors, expanding the scope to include legislative branch agencies and eliminating any opt-out options.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Federal agencies in the executive and legislative branches will need to verify that contractors comply with E-Verify before awarding contracts, potentially increasing administrative oversight and contract delays.
- On citizens and workers: U.S. citizens and authorized immigrants may face smoother hiring processes with E-Verify, but unauthorized workers could lose job opportunities with federal contractors, affecting employment in sectors reliant on government contracts (e.g., construction, IT services).
- On international relations: Minimal direct impact, though it reinforces U.S. immigration policies, which could influence perceptions of the U.S. as a strict enforcer of work authorization rules.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal contractors and subcontractors: Businesses receiving federal funds must implement E-Verify, incurring setup costs (e.g., training staff) and potential hiring restrictions.
- Federal government agencies: Responsible for enforcement and compliance checks in procurement processes.
- Employees and job seekers: Particularly those in industries tied to government work, where verification could prevent hiring of unauthorized individuals.
- Immigration advocacy groups: Both pro-enforcement groups (supporting reduced unauthorized employment) and immigrant rights organizations (concerned about barriers to work).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing immigration authority under federal law but could lead to lawsuits if seen as overly burdensome on contractors, potentially challenging enforcement mechanisms in court.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's power to regulate commerce and immigration; no major conflicts anticipated, but it may raise questions about federal overreach into private hiring practices.
- Political: Aligns with efforts to tighten immigration controls, likely appealing to supporters of stricter enforcement while drawing criticism from those viewing it as discriminatory or economically disruptive; as an introduced bill, its passage would signal congressional priorities on border security.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2], Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-01-08: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 17 - 8.
- 2026-01-08: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-04-03: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, 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.
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to require all Federal contractors to participate in the E-verify program. — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (2 pages)