VERIFY Act of 2026

The VERIFY Act of 2026 directs the Department of Homeland Security to upgrade the SAVE program, which verifies immigration status for individuals applying for federal benefits, to ensure faster and more accurate responses. Key provisions require modernizing the system's technology to reduce delays, integrating it with other government databases for better data sharing, and mandating that status changes be reflected within 24 hours. The bill also establishes strict rules for using automated tools, ensuring human review is required for any negative eligibility decisions and prohibiting the use of the system for general law enforcement or criminal history checks. Additionally, the act prohibits charging fees to government agencies for verification queries and mandates regular audits by the Inspector General to monitor accuracy and compliance.