[ProgressingAmerica]

"What power does E-Verify give the federal government over me that it doesn't already have?"

Half of this is unnecessary.

"What power does E-Verify give the federal government?"

It's a harassment power, like any other. Build a border wall and E-Verify is irrelevant.

[Reno89519]

Use eVerify and remove illegals from the work place. Starve them out by lack of jobs, prosecute employers that still try to employ them. No jobs, I bet most will self-deport.

But maybe the bigger problem is that most catch-and-release are given work permits while they wait hearings. Is this true? How many or what percent? I've searched this before and found the general conclusion that some, many, maybe all are given work permits but no specific answer to know what is correct.

[Wayne07]

“Build a border wall and E-Verify is irrelevant.”

Border helps stop future illegal crossing, but does nothing for the millions already here. Cut off the work and many will go home.

[zeestephen]

Re: "Build a border wall and E-Verify is irrelevant."

Wow - you have been mis-informed.

50%-60% of illegal immigrants in the USA come here legally with a temporary visa and never leave.

The only people who try to sneak across the border are people who cannot get a visa, because they are too young, or too poor, or because they have a criminal record or terrorist or gang affiliations.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

It's a harassment power, like any other.

I'm unclear on what harassment E-Verify would enable that is not already possible for the federal government. Note that E-Verify is already in effect for some federal contract jobs - what abuses or harassment have resulted?

Build a border wall and E-Verify is irrelevant.

Do both - a border wall to stop illegal immigration via Mexico, and E-Verify to stop the hiring of illegals who enter the US in other ways.