USCIS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week announced three new initiatives aimed at strengthening the accuracy and efficiency of the E-Verify system. These new initiatives include a new agreement with the Department of Justice that proposes to streamline adjudication in E-Verify misuse and discrimination cases. Additionally, a new telephone hotline has been created to better provide customer service to employees seeking information about E-Verify. Finally, new training videos have been developed that will focus on E-Verify, including employee rights and employer responsibilities. These videos will be in both English and Spanish.

“E-Verify is a smart, simple and effective tool that helps employers across the country maintain a legal workforce,” said Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. “The initiatives announced today will provide essential information to workers about their rights and ensure that E-Verify is used fairly while bolstering the Department's efforts to protect critical employment opportunities.”

The new educational training videos are available online at either www.dhs.gov/e-verify or www.youtube.com/ushomelandsecurity. The new hotline number, which will be active starting April 5, 2010, is (888) 897-7781.