Illinois E-Verify Statute Overturned

March 2009

On March 12, 2009, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois struck down Illinois' E-Verify statute. This law differed from most state E-Verify legislation in that it actually prohibited employers from enrolling in the federal E-Verify pilot program until the E-Verify program met certain standards for speed and accuracy. The court held that the Illinois statute was invalid under the Supremacy Clause, thereby rejecting the state's argument that E-Verify's status as a mere pilot program permitted Illinois to force the federal program to meet its standards.

Related Information:

• Illinois E-Verify Statute Overturned (PDF)