US Sues Illinois Over Database Used to Detect Illegal Workers

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That's right - the federal government is sueing a the state of Illinois. Illinois has implemented a law FORBIDDING companies from signing up with or using the federal database Basic Pilot (recently renamed E-Verify). When other states are pushing employers to use the database (and in some states it is becoming mandatory that the database be used); Illinois plans to punish any employer in their state who uses it. See full article - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/25/washington/25immig.html?th&emc=th Illinois says the database is flawed and inaccurate and could result in legal residents losing their jobs. Actually, this would only happen if the employer did not follow the proper procedures when a problem is reported to them. If the number comes back as "no match"; the employer is supposed to first verify that the number was input correctly (no typos) and that the employee gave them the proper number (employee did not write the wrong number down accidentally). If the number comes back as an "incorrect match"; this means the employer needs to verify things like: whether or not the employee has moved recently and have the employee check into whether there is more than one individual using the social security number. (When 50 people are using the same number, all of them will be flagged including the correct user. This is actually a good thing; because, it lets the real owner of that number start investigating and freezing their credit, etc. Otherwise, they might not know what was going on until they got a huge bill from the IRS!) If employers do what they are supposed to do; the legal workers will be easily identified and separated from the identity thieves. I think Illinois is out-of-step with the rest of the nation and is trying to protect these illegal immigrants. What do you think? Who should have the final word on things like this? Can a state say that federal programs cannot be used?