Shutdown denies employers work eligibility tool

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (AP) -- The federal government shutdown has cut off employers from a system that lets them quickly check an employee's eligibility to work in the U.S.

Minnesota businesses say that's causing hiring headaches. Minneapolis attorney Scott Wright, an expert in business immigration law, tells the St. Cloud Times that it's also adding to the administrative costs of hiring.

The E-Verify system compares information from an employee's I-9 form to data from federal agencies.

Kelly Severson of Atlas Staffing in St. Cloud says her firm is continuing to place employees without running the checks. She says they'll run them when the system is available again, but she's also worried about what might happen if an employee who's already been placed is found ineligible to work.