E-Verify renewed for three years

As a result of an agreement made by the Senate and House Homeland Security Appropriations Conference Committee on Oct. 7, lawmakers approved a conference agreement that includes a three-year extension of the E-Verify program. E-Verify enables employers to electronically verify the immigration status of their workers. The agreement allocates $137 million for the program.

For the department’s major operating components, the agreement allocates $10.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection, $5.4 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and $7.7 billion for the Transportation Security Administration.

The department will have about $4.2 billion it can distribute in state and local grants in fiscal year 2010 — nearly $300 million more than requested by the administration.

Other highlights include $800 million for border security fencing, infrastructure and technology; more than $1 billion to buy and install explosives detection systems at airports nationwide; and about $400 million for cyber security activities.