Senator Jim Banks and Representative Erin Houchin have introduced the College Employment Accountability Act aiming at ending federal support for universities hiring illegal immigrants.
Key Takeaways
- The College Employment Accountability Act seeks to cut federal funding for institutions hiring illegal immigrants.
- This legislation mandates E-Verify use for employee immigration status checks.
- Lawmakers are targeting wealthy colleges for increased tax on endowments while countering state-level initiatives supportive of undocumented students.
- The enforcement of this legislation will involve the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security.
Legislative Efforts and Federal Control
The new bill aligns with a broader Republican agenda to increase federal oversight of educational institutions, addressing accountability issues and the student debt crisis. Lawmakers have introduced over 30 education-related bills, predominantly by Republicans, focusing on matters like student loan capping, immigration restrictions, and penalizing campus protests.
The College Employment Accountability Act, spearheaded by Senators Jim Banks and J.D. Vance, is a significant step. This bill would require federally funded schools to implement the E-Verify program, ensuring compliance with federal immigration laws.
Federal Funding and Compliance
The act proposes amending the Higher Education Act of 1965, prohibiting institutions that hire unauthorized aliens from receiving federal funds. The University of California’s halted proposal to allow illegal immigrants campus employment further highlights the complexity of education and immigration policy.
“American universities receive tens of billions of dollars in federal funds every year. Ensuring they’re not violating the law, employing illegal aliens, and driving down wages for American workers is the least we can do,” Sen. Banks said.
Many universities, notably the University of California, argue that the federal hiring ban applies only to government entities. This act, however, seeks to apply these restrictions across federally funded institutions. The Department of Education and Homeland Security would be charged with assuring compliance.
Broader Implications of the Act
By denying federal funding to non-compliant schools, the legislation emphasizes taxpayer protection and accountability. The proposal counters certain state-level initiatives, guarding American employment opportunities and curtailing unlawful employment within educational sectors.
“American jobs belong to Americans. Those who unlawfully hire illegal aliens undermine our workers and drive down wages. This commonsense bill finally adds real consequences to existing law and will help ensure taxpayer dollars don’t support colleges and universities that hire those in our country illegally,” Sen. Banks continued.
As the bill garners support, it conveys a significant move in addressing the ongoing federal-state tensions in immigration policy. This proposal forms part of a comprehensive strategy to reform how federal funds are distributed based on compliance with immigration laws.
