More companies use DHS immigration database

that require public and private employers to use the system.

A bill that would have made participation in E-Verify mandatory for all government agencies in Texas failed to make it out of committee this session.

Dozens of Texas cities and counties are participating in the program. Dallas opted to enroll in 2004. Frank Librio, a spokesman for the city of Dallas, said the program helped ensure the city complies with federal employment verification laws.

During the past five years, E-Verify checks have resulted in “non-confirmation” notices for 63 new hires, Librio said. Twenty-nine people who received the letters opted to “self-terminate” the employment process. He said the remaining 34 resolved their issues and were hired.

The city of Houston enrolled in the program about a year ago, but does not use it, said Roland Bienvenu, a spokesman for the city’s human resources department. “We’re not required to use it, and we already take steps to verify employment eligibility,” Bienvenu said, including requiring new employees to complete the I-9 form as required under by law and checking a Social Security Administration database.

Frank Michel, a spokesman for Mayor Bill White, said the city is revamping a portion of its internal computer system, and will consider training employees to use E-Verify once the other upgrade is completed later this summer. Michel said there is also some concern that the city’s hiring process, which involves multiple departments, may make it difficult to comply with certain deadlines required by E-Verify.

Harris County also does not use E-Verify, said Richard Foisner, director of payroll for the county. “Basically, the way I understand it, currently it’s an optional program,” Foisner said.

Despite its recent enrollment boost, E-Verify still is used by less than 2 percent of the nation’s more than 7.4 million employers. Only about 1.3 percent of Texas’ 509,000 businesses have signed up. The list of participating employers spans across the state, from small, rural churches to massive slaughterhouses.

Naegelin’s Bakery in New Braunfels, which claims the title of “oldest continuously operating bakery” in the state, has signed up. The Boys & Girls Club of Arlington is a participant. So is the Coca-Cola plant in Odessa. CenterPoint Energy, Lockheed Martin Corporation and Happy Hen Farms Inc. are all enrolled. Halliburton is not (Carroll notes that, in the interest of full disclosure, the Houston Chronicle is not enrolled in E-Verify).

Frank Crapitto, owner of Houston restaurants Crapitto’s Cucina Italiana and Frank’s Chop House, said his company signed up to try the program in February. Crapitto said he has not used it yet, but plans to start with the next round of hires. In April, the Obama administration announced new guidelines that increase the focus on employers who break the law. “They’re talking about all of these punishments for people that hire illegal aliens,” Crapitto said. “And you have people coming in with fake IDs, fake driver’s licenses and Social Security cards. So you don’t know what you’re getting. This helps you follow the rules,” he said.