New legislation being proposed by Republican lawmakers could cut off federal funding to colleges and universities hiring illegal immigrants. The College Employment Accountability Act seeks to enforce immigration laws on campus, targeting institutions that attempt to circumvent federal hiring regulations.
At a glance:
• Republican Senator Jim Banks and Representative Erin Houchin have introduced the College Employment Accountability Act
• The bill would withdraw federal aid from colleges and universities that employ undocumented immigrants
• It mandates the use of E-Verify by higher education institutions to confirm employment eligibility
• The legislation was prompted by the University of California’s proposal to allow illegal immigrant students to work on campus
• Enforcement would be handled by the Department of Education and Department of Homeland Security
Cracking Down on Illegal Hiring Practices
The College Employment Accountability Act represents the latest Republican effort to strengthen federal controls over higher education institutions – and if it passes, it could change the ways universities function from the top to the bottom. Senator Jim Banks of Indiana has described the bill as a measure to protect American workers and prevent misuse of taxpayer funds.
The legislation would make federal funding for colleges contingent on compliance with federal laws against employing illegal immigrants. Schools failing to verify the legal status of employees could lose access to student aid and other federal funding streams.
“American jobs belong to Americans. Those who unlawfully hire illegal aliens undermine our workers and drive down wages,” said Senator Jim Banks in a statement. “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.”
The bill specifically mandates the use of E-Verify, a federal system that checks employment eligibility. Higher education institutions receiving federal funding would be required to verify all employees through this system or face penalties.
Response to University Actions
Republican lawmakers developed this legislation in direct response to initiatives from the University of California system. The UC system had proposed allowing illegal immigrant students to work on campus, but paused the controversial plan after significant pushback.
The timing of the university’s decision to delay implementation until after the November election has raised suspicions among Republican lawmakers. Many see it as a politically calculated move to avoid controversy during election season.
Representative Erin Houchin, who is co-sponsoring the House version of the bill, stated “Colleges and universities that knowingly hire illegal immigrants have no business receiving taxpayer money. The College Employment Accountability Act puts an end to this abuse by requiring schools to follow the law or lose access to federal funds.”
University administrators had argued that federal hiring bans only apply to the federal government itself. This interpretation prompted a warning from the Department of Homeland Security about potential legal violations.
Part of Broader Republican Agenda
The College Employment Accountability Act is one of more than 30 higher education bills introduced in the 119th Congress. Republicans have sponsored the majority of these bills, reflecting their increased focus on accountability in higher education.
Other Republican initiatives include measures to restrict immigration on campus, cap student loans, increase taxes on university endowments, and penalize institutions that permit anti-Israel protests. These proposals align with broader Republican immigration policies under the Trump administration.
Congressional supporters cite statistics showing that over seven million illegal aliens have crossed the southern border after President Biden took office.
If illegals can’t get work, they may just use Trump’s CBP Home app to…self deport.
