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This week, Keller Mayor Armin Mizani issued a press release encouraging city contractors to use E-Verify, the federal program that confirms whether employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.
Urging his city to lead by example, Mayor Mizani framed the measure as a commonsense, America First step to protect local jobs, uphold the law, and ensure fair competition for law-abiding businesses.
Too often, local governments talk about enforcing immigration laws but fail to take practical steps to do so. Keller’s leadership stands out as an example of what real integrity looks like at the local level.
Illegal labor, particularly in construction and contracting, has become a major obstacle to honest competition. Companies that rely on illegal labor can dramatically undercut bids from businesses that follow the law and hire American workers.
The result? Law-abiding business owners lose contracts, and local workers lose opportunities to support their families.
While some may see a short-term benefit in “cheap labor,” taxpayer-funded projects must never reward illegal hiring practices. When local governments spend public dollars, they have a duty to ensure those funds go to companies that play by the rules.
Mayor Mizani’s push for E-Verify is not just a legal safeguard — it’s a statement of values. It says that citizenship and the rule of law still matter, and that communities like Keller will stand on principle even when others refuse to.
Texans for Strong Borders will continue pushing to make E-Verify a universal requirement statewide and hold local governments accountable for how they spend your tax dollars.