Nicole Sanga has been investigating the government's E-Verify program, which employers use to confirm the citizenship of would-be hires. Almost everyone she spoke with believes the system is broken by design.

Texas

A recent investigation into the E-Verify program, used by over a million U.S. employers to confirm worker eligibility, has highlighted significant flaws in the system. Employers, including Gary Rower, have faced legal consequences despite relying on E-Verify, as the system checks documents rather than individuals, making it vulnerable to identity theft and fraud.

Experts and law enforcement officials describe E-Verify as ineffective, with some calling it a 'wink-and-nod system' that is easy to circumvent. The government maintains that businesses are responsible for verifying the legitimacy of employee documents, but employers argue that without a permanent fix, they remain at risk of further legal and financial repercussions.

Major issues with E-Verify system for immigrant workers

About 70,000 convicted criminals have been deported under President Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration. Our Margaret Brennan has obtained a document from ICE shedding light on their crimes. The most common were either immigration or traffic offenses. And CBS's Nicole Skanga has been investigating the government's E-Verify program, which employers use to confirm the citizenship of would-be hires. Almost everyone she spoke with believes the system is broken by design. Did you have even a drop of suspicion that any of your employees had been here and working illegally? I swear we had no idea. Gary Rower built a quick-steak empire. Let me show you why my patented slices make it so quick and easy to cook. At this meat processing center in Omaha, Nebraska, then a tactical team of federal agents knocked on his door. More than 70 of his assembly line employees were arrested. Gary, who's gone now at this photo? Oh, my God. Half of them. Rower says he put his faith in E-Verify, the federal system used by more than a million employers each year, mandatory in 10 states. We did everything right, but yet we got penalized big. I mean, big time. The government tells employers like Rower that E-Verify gives peace of mind. To Greenlight employees, the system matches documents, such as licenses and Social Security cards, to a U.S. government database of eligible workers, but it vets paperwork, not people. Experts say that system is broken, not only exposing employers like Rower to raids like this, but also increases an all-too-common crime, identity theft. This is a nationwide problem. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Elric Serdan led that investigation. He calls Gary Rower and his business a victim. This was, in fact, a targeted criminal investigation to rescue over 100 victims of stolen identities. This was a criminal investigation, not civil immigration enforcement. Correct. Everybody's the victim of this broken system. Alex Narasta of the Libertarian Cato Institute calls E-Verify a wink-and-nod system. The thing that experts know that is sort of a dirty little secret is E-Verify is a very easy-to-fool program. Part of the appeal is that the program doesn't work. Absolutely. It allows politicians to talk tough about illegal immigration without actually imposing enormous costs on the U.S. economy. This really brings it home, Nicole. So what's the government got to say about this? Well, U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, Maurice, told us that it's really the legal responsibility of businesses to check employee documents and ensure they appear to be legitimate and genuine. So they're actually throwing the onus back on business owners like Gary Rower. So, okay, Rower hires more people, uses E-Verify. What would happen to him? John, the answer is the same thing. I mean, Rower says he'll rely on that E-Verify system in order to rehire because it's the U.S. government's only compliance system. And he tells us that without a permanent fix, he is terrified this could happen to him and his business all over again. And to many others, too. Nicole Skanga, thanks so much.

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Washington

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Damascus

Middle East Conflict

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London

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

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Mexico City

Global Tariffs

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Tel Aviv-Yafo

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Jerusalem

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Police in Los Angeles have arrested a 22-year-old suspect in the double homicide of American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, was found shot to death in their home earlier this week.

Encino

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Hollywood

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Moscow

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As Suwayda

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Atlanta

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The House Committee on Education and Workforce is holding its ninth hearing in 18 months on antisemitism on college campuses. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has more details.

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New Delhi

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New Jersey

Two killed in New Jersey flash flooding

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Doha

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New York

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Breakdown