Trump Urged to Mandate E-Verify Nationwide

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The Trump administration recently withdrew federal immigration agents from Minneapolis, essentially declaring defeat in the face of protests. The author argues that a better approach would have been to mandate the use of E-Verify, a web-based system that allows employers to verify the eligibility of their workers. The author contends that nationwide adoption of E-Verify would reduce incentives for illegal immigration by making it harder for businesses to hire undocumented workers, leading to higher wages and prices but also more legal compliance.

Why it matters

Illegal immigration remains a major challenge, with an estimated 20 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Requiring E-Verify could be an effective way to target the root cause by reducing the incentives for businesses to hire illegal workers, potentially leading to more self-deportation and pressure to reform the immigration system.

The details

E-Verify is a simple, inexpensive system that allows employers to verify the eligibility of their workers. The author argues that widespread adoption of E-Verify would increase wages and prices, as businesses could no longer rely on cheaper illegal labor. However, this would also mean more jobs going to legal workers and greater compliance with immigration laws.

• The Trump administration withdrew federal immigration agents from Minneapolis in February 2026.

What’s next

The Trump administration would need to push for nationwide adoption of the E-Verify system to require all employers to verify the eligibility of their workers.