While touting the benefits of E-government "as the way of the future" now that Nebraska drivers can renew their license plates online, Gov. Dave Heineman declined to use his executive power and require the use of a federally-funded, online employee verification program to combat illegal immigration in the state.

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Heineman will not issue an executive order that requires state contractors and subcontractors to use the free E-Verify system to screen out applicants who might be illegal immigrants.

"I don't think you need to do an executive order," Heineman said. "I think we ought to have that discussion at the Legislative level. Let them send me a bill I can sign into law."

That bill will likely come from Omaha Sen. Brad Ashford, who, in a recent hearing on illegal immigration, said he would include E-Verify in a bill next Legislative session. E-Verify is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and it matches information provided by a prospective employee to the U.S. Social Security database.

E-Verify often determines eligibility immediately, and is generally considered more than 90 percent accurate, although one study puts it at 99.4 percent.

Heineman does not have to wait for the Legislature. He could issue an executive order for state contracts, similar to the order Pres. Bush enacted on 200,000 federal contractors and subcontractors starting in 2009. Governors in other states, such as Rhode Island and Minnesota, have required the use of e-Verify by executive order.

Although Heineman he would "strongly consider" E-Verify, he deferred to the Legislature to hammer out a plan.

"Sen. Ashford has conducted a number of hearings," Heineman said. "I think we're moving forward with a consensus on what we might be able to do on immigration reform."

That reform is not likely to include any enactment of 287g, a federal program in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials train state and local authorities on how to detain and process any illegal immigrant they encounter in their daily police work.

“Right now there’s just no support in the local law enforcement community,” Heineman said. “If there’s not support from them, I just don’t see us heading in that direction. But better cooperation, better collaboration between ICE and our local and state law enforcement – I believe that is necessary, to make sure we better understand each of us does.” Heineman did not specify which local law enforcement was not in favor of the 287g program.

How does that happen outside the federal program designed to foster cooperation? Heineman pointed to a Fremont task force that successfully worked with ICE on a number of issues. The task force, however, had to use Sen. Ben Nelson as a go-between to kick-start the process, though.

Would all local law enforcement agencies have to travel such channels?

“They shouldn’t have to,” Heineman said. “…Unfortunately, sometimes, it doesn’t always work the way it should, but if we can be a conduit to have better cooperation, we will.”

Heineman's comments were part of press conference for an online license plate renewal program from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles. Instead of paying in person at the county treasurer's office, or sending payment in the mail, Nebraskans would be able to pay by check or credit card at www.clickdmv.ne.gov. The system had a silent launch Dec. 15, and more than 100 people have already used it.

Nearly 2 million vehicles in the state are eligible for online renewal, which includes a "portal fee" of $3, if paying by check, or 3 percent, if using a credit card. Nebraska DMV Director Beverley Neth said it was the "most requested" service from Nebraska drivers, some of whom had already been taking advantage the DMV's current online programs for driver reinstatement and specialty plates.

Heineman agreed.

"This is one more way to make government more efficient and customer friendly – that's where we're headed," he said. "…Technology is the way of the future. Our kids don't ever plan to step foot in a city hall, county courthouse or state office building. They want to transact their business online. They want to do it with their cell phone, or their computer. And we need to be prepared to do that."

By Samuel McKewon. Published Dec. 23 at www.nebraskastatepaper.com