President George W. Bush signed an executive order last week to require federal contractors to use the E-Verify system to confirm the legal status of employees used on federal contracts.

E-Verify (formerly known as the Basic Pilot/Employment Eligibility Verification Program) is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security, in partnership with the Social Security Administration, that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.

For more information, click below:

• About E-Verify
• Washington Post: Bush orders contractors to check legal status of employees
• Washington Times: U.S. contractors must verify staff