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Among the top priorities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are efforts to enforce immigration laws and improve E-Verify, the DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano said at a May 6 hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Secretary's written testimony can be read here.

Secretary Napolitano said DHS is continuing its efforts to improve the E-Verify program, the federal government's electronic employment verification program. She also expressed her support for comprehensive immigration legislation and said she would work with the President and Congress to get the legislation passed. Secretary Napolitano told the Committee the E-Verify program must be an integral part of the strategy to address unauthorized immigration.

According to Secretary Napolitano, DHS has taken several steps over the last few months to improve the E-Verify program. Those changes include the following:

• System updates designed to reduce typographical errors;
• A photo screening tool to combat document fraud and identity theft;
• A monitoring and compliance branch to ensure employers are using E-Verify correctly;
• A new database to further reduce initial mismatches;
• A new process for employees to call a Citizenship and Immigration Services toll free number to resolve mismatches for naturalized citizens as an alternative to visiting a Social Security Administration office.