The Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) has signed an agreement with the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that makes E- Verify more thorough. This makes it possible for the DHS to verify driver’s licenses and ID cards, making the E-Verify process more secure for Arizona employers.

The Legal Arizona Worker’s act, also referred to as the “Employee Sanctions Law” went into effect January 1^st, 2008, and was amended effective May 1^st, 2008. The Legal Arizona Worker’s act prohibits businesses from hiring an “unauthorized alien” after December 31^st, 2007. The law requires employers to use the E-Verify system to verify the authorization of all new employees hired after December 31^st, 2007.

In 2014 Arizona ranked 9^th in the nation for identity theft cases with 96 complaints for every 100,000 people, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Arizona ranked 14^th in identity theft during 2015 with 134 reported cases per 100,000 residents according to the FTC report released during March 2016. Although Arizona’s identity theft national ranking went down in 2015 (14^th) compared to 2014 (9^th), the amount of reported cases per 100,000 residents rose by 38. Identity theft is charged as a class 4 felony under Arizona law.

E-Verify is an internet-based system that compares employee’s information from form I-9, and Employment Eligibility Verification, with data from U.S DHS and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility. The system covers enrolled employers, federal contractors, and E-Verify Employer Agent (EEAs). Federal Contractors must self-report whether their contract has E-Verify FAR clause. The tool contains, business name, federal contractor identifier, E-Verify Employer Agent, employer city, state and ZIP code used during registration, and workforce size. Arizona, Wyoming, and Maryland are the most recent states to join the RIDE program.