Honest Immigration and Recruitment Enforcement Act (HIRE Act)

Immigration: We Had a Solution Decades Ago

Mass deportations? Family separation? That’s not a plan — that’s cowardice dressed up as policy. The real problem isn’t the people risking everything to survive — it’s the employers who hire them, underpay them, and act shocked when anyone calls it what it is: illegal. These businesses know exactly what they’re doing. And they’ve had a free ride for decades.

We already have a tool to stop illegal hiring — it’s called E-Verify. It’s been around since the ’90s. It’s free. It works. But most employers don’t use it, because there’s no consequence if they don’t. They get the labor. They skip the taxes. They exploit the system. And then the same politicians who take their corporate checks point the finger at immigrants instead of their employers.

How It Works

  1. Mandates nationwide use of E-Verify by every business, regardless of size, within 12 months of passage.
  2. Imposes escalating fines and business penalties for employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers.
  3. Protects whistleblowers and creates accountability databases to track violators.

Full Text

Honest Immigration and Recruitment Enforcement Act (HIRE Act)

Section 1: Mandatory E-Verify for All Employers

Within 12 months of passage, all businesses, regardless of size, must integrate and use the E-Verify system for every employee and contractor hired. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide onboarding support, training, and system integration resources.

Section 2: Penalties for Non-Compliance

Employers found hiring unauthorized workers shall face a $25,000 fine per violation. A second offense results in a $50,000 fine per violation. A third offense and beyond results in a $100,000 fine per violation, suspension of business licenses, ineligibility for government contracts, and public listing in the Employer Accountability Database.

Section 3: Enforcement & Whistleblower Protections

The Department of Labor and DHS will conduct random audits to ensure compliance. Employees who report violations will be protected from retaliation and may be eligible for financial rewards and legal assistance.

Section 4: Effective Date

This Act becomes law upon passage. Mandatory E-Verify use begins 12 months after passage, with full enforcement and penalties applied thereafter.

Disclaimer

I’m not a lawyer, and this isn’t finalized legislative language — but I’m also not waiting around for someone else to write what’s clearly overdue. We need more single issue, readable bills.

These are serious drafts from someone running for Congress who believes voters deserve more than slogans and vague promises. And yes, once elected, I’ll work with the Office of Legislative Counsel, the Congressional Research Service, and policy experts to refine every section into fully enforceable law. That’s what they’re there for.

But make no mistake — the intent, urgency, and direction are already here.