The Department of Homeland Security issued a Supplemental No Match Rule yesterday (press release | PDF warning: 100 pages). DHS officials hope the new language will clarify questions that prompted a U.S. District Court judge to issue an injunction against enforcement last year.
“The additional information in this supplemental rule addresses the specific items raised by the Court, and we expect to be able to quickly implement it,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
But employer advocates, including the Coalition for a Working Oregon, said that the new rule comes up short in terms of offering a comprehensive immigration and workforce solution. “Immigration reform is a complicated issue,” OAN Government Affairs Director and CWO Co-Chairman Jeff Stone said in a press release. “The only way to successfully fix it is through comprehensive reform. This is the same rule that does not take into account the onerous impact and cost it will have to small business.” The No Match rule requires employers to terminate any worker whose Social Security number cannot be confirmed by the Social Security Administration, while also outlining “safe harbor” steps for employers to take to avoid prosecution.
