The Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program is an inter-governmental initiative designed to help governments or any other benefit-granting agency determine an applicant's immigration status, ensuring that only entitled applicants receive federal, state or local benefits and licenses.
The county government's Development Services Center and marshal's office uses the system to verify license applications for: occupational tax (business licenses), selling or serving alcohol, peddler/solicitor, amusement activities, pawnshops, pool rooms, massage practitioners, precious metal dealers, adult entertainment establishments, ambulance franchises, wreckers, taxis and limousines.
County Manager Jerry Cooper said the county has made 55 inquiries using the system since September last year, and all checked out as legal.
Fifteen applicants withdrew their requests before a verification check was run because they admitted they were in the country illegally.
"The system is fairly easy to use. It provides easy-to-understand instructions and tutorials," Cooper said of SAVE. "The system is effective in determining the citizenship status of those seeking benefits."
State law required city governments to start using the program at the beginning of the year.
Since then, the city of Woodstock has run 21 verifications, 20 of which checked out.
The one that did not come back as legal was denied, according to Terry Crowley, who operates the system for the city government.
The city uses SAVE for anyone who is deemed to be receiving a benefit, from employment to a business license.
The city of Canton has run 25 verifications, all of which checked out, according to Linda Buchanan, who is in charge of business licenses and taxes for the city.
"It looks like it is going to be good for us," she said of SAVE.
The city of Ball Ground performed one check for a beer and wine license, which came back as legal. It also uses SAVE before granting business licenses.
"The process for us was very effective," Ball Ground City Manager Eric Wilmarth said. "It took me probably less than five minutes to run it."
But the program is not perfect, Wilmarth said, as some people complain that the form is "intrusive."
"For them, it is one more piece of paperwork they have to do," he said.
Mrs. Crowley said the system also is "faulty" because SAVE only can be used if the applicant says he or she is a qualified alien or non-immigrant lawfully present in the country.
The city of Waleska has not yet used the program. The city of Holly Springs still is in the process of implementing the program, according to City Clerk Karen Norred.
Also for the folks that are complaining about the intrusive form, it is a symptom that we all have to deal with becuase we have allow such abuse of services.