MISSION The Rocky Mountain Foundation is sponsoring this new program to recognize employers who participate in the federal E-Verify program. E-verify is operated by the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. It electronically checks the employer's new hires against a federal database to identify job applicants who are not eligible for legal employment in the United States. The federal E-Verify program is explained at this government website: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify VISION Project B.R.A.V.E. will recognize and promote employers who are enrolled in the E-verify program and will ask consumers to patronize those companies. The goal is to help citizens identify companies and services who are making an effort to comply with federal laws prohibiting the employment of workers who are in the country illegally or who do not have a visa authorizing employment.
Colorado has an estimated 300,000 - 400,000 illegal aliens, including at least 200,000 adult workers taking jobs from Colorado citizens and legal workers
Less than 5% of illegal aliens work in agriculture and over 30% work in construction and ligh manufacturing, according to Pew Hispanic Center surveys.
A recent Quarterly Labor Report from the Pew Hispanic Center found that legal Hispanic workers - citizens and legal immigrants - are losing jobs to "undocumented workers."
Over 200,000 employers across the nation, and over 5,600 in Colorado participate in the federal E-Verify program, and
Eight states require participation by all or some employers, and two states, Arizona and Oklahoma, require all employers to participate.
All companies doing business with the federal government (with some exceptions) must participate in the program.
Colorado law requires participation in the program only for companies doing business with a state agency
Although since 2006, Colorado employers are required to keep on file and available for audit by the state Department of Labor all documents relating to employment of foreign-born workers, in practice audits are rare. Not a single employer has been prosecurted for employing illegal workers under this statue.
Because of lax enforcement of both federal and state laws, companies who try conscientiously to hire only legal workers are currently at a competitive disadvantage with companies who utilize illegal workers. Use of illegal labor encourages tax evasion and drives down wages for all workers.
B.R.A.V.E. PATRIOT QUALIFICATIONS Employers who take the further step of enrolling in the federal IMAGE program of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency will earn recognition as BRAVE Pioneers. (http://www.ice.gov/partners/opaimage/index.html.) The IMAGE program invites a compliance audit by ICE inspectors and sets up an internal program of additional safeguards against employment of unauthorized workers. Click here for a list of B.R.A.V.E. Pioneer employers ...>>
B.R.A.V.E. PIONEER QUALIFICATIONS This new web page will feature logo's and links to B.R.A.V.E. businesses. We will feature employers large and small who have taken the B.R.A.V.E. pledge. B.R.A.V.E. employers agree to enroll in the federal E-verify program and to abide by all federal and state laws regarding employment of unauthorized workers. Click here for a list of B.R.A.V.E Business Listing ...>>
CHARTER MEMBERSHIP: FREE The first 10 companies to enroll in B.R.A.V.E. will receive the first year of membership free.
B.R.A.V.E. MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT Annual membership fees are based on the total number of employees: 1. Less than 10 employees $60.00 2. 10-50 employees $150.00 3. Over 50 employees $300.00 4. Lifetime membership $1000.00
MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS - Promote and support businesses who subscribe to E-Verify - Link your business web site and logo with other B.R.A.V.E. businesses on the B.R.A.V.E. web portal. - Earn the Tancredo B.R.A.V.E. Seal of approval logo to advertise - Be spotlighted by Tom Tancredo on Denver talk radio and via the Rocky Mountain Foundation - Be included in special events promoting the B.R.A.V.E. and employer members - Attend an annual B.R.A.V.E. banquet with legislators and B.R.A.V.E. members, hosted by Tom Tancredo HOW CAN CONSUMERS FIND B.R.A.V.E. EMPLOYERS? A new web page at www.therockymountainfoundation.org will host a web page listing B.R.A.V.E. employers large and small who have taken the B.R.A.V.E. pledge by posting their business logo's and web links to the B.R.A.V.E. business websites.
