Today, a last minute appeal by the US Chamber of Commerce was denied, clearing the way for E-Verify to become law for most businesses that contract with the Federal Government. One of the salient criticisms of this computerized system in the past has been the high error rate. However, recent massive infusions of capital into the E-verify system will supposedly make this program more boon than bane.
Currently a bill is pending in Congress that will require E-Verify implementation into all areas of the private sector.
The nativist part of me applauds this decision as a way to get more Americans back to work and to disincentivize those that enter our country illegally. And of course any time the Chamber of Commerce loses a case, I'm tickled because they're basically shits.
But my past Dobbsian philosophy has become leavened with the thought that we're missing the bigger picture. One of the sacrifices of E-Verify is that another level of governmental inspection into our lives has been proclaimed. The Chamber of Commerce wasn't protesting that facet at all, no, just the fact that shadow labor as their right was being removed and that corporations just might have to start paying an American wage scale upset them.
Our country doesn't have a good reputation when it comes to how we treat the least amongst us. The undocumented will still rounded up like cattle and the heartbreak will continue. We'll still have Arizona sheriffs and vigilantes and people risking everything to feed relateds back home in another country.
Just what have we gained for what we've given up?