Photo Courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

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The federal immigration agency said today that it is adding hours and personnel to reduce wait times for its E-Verify help line.

E-Verify, an otherwise voluntary program, is mandatory for all employers in Arizona under a state law that took effect Jan. 1. It is a free online tool that allows employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly-hired employees, ensuring that businesses do not hire illegal immigrants.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services maintains a help line, 1-888-464-4218, for employers to call in and ask questions or get help using the E-Verify program.

"We've had an increase in the number of calls. We had a surge in the past month," said agency spokeswoman Marie Sebrechts.

The agency said someone now will be available to answer calls from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, regardless from which time zone the call originates.

"In addition, USCIS will proactively call new E-Verify customers within 24-48 hours of registration to offer additional information and instructions," according to an agency press release.

More than 43,000 employers are currently enrolled in the program — with an average of 1,000 joining each week, according to USCIS. There are around 145,000 employers in Arizona, according to the Arizona Department of Revenue.

Details about the program and registration are available online at www.uscis.gov/e-verify.