GOP senator proposes funding cuts for hiring illegal immigrants

A Republican senator has proposed new legislation aimed at cutting federal funding to colleges and universities that hire illegal immigrants. Senator Jim Banks from Indiana introduced the College Employment Accountability Act. He argues that the bill will ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to support schools that do not follow immigration laws. Under this legislation, colleges receiving federal aid would have to use the E-Verify program to check the legal status of their employees. If schools do not comply, they would lose access to federal student aid and other funding. Rep. Erin Houchin, also from Indiana, stated that schools that knowingly hire illegal immigrants should not receive taxpayer support. The bill comes in response to recent activities in California. There, the University of California system has attempted to hire students without legal documentation, which led to legal challenges and a veto from Governor Gavin Newsom against a related bill. The new proposal is backed by the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security, which would be tasked with monitoring compliance. This is not the first time Senator Banks has tried to tighten the conditions under which universities can receive federal funds.