'Buried in the immigration bill is a nat'l ID system called E-Verify' (the-free-foundation.org)

From the article: The mandatory E-Verify system requires Americans to carry a “tamper-proof” social security card. Before they can legally begin a job, American citizens will have to show the card to their prospective employer, who will then have to verify their identity and eligibility to hold a job in the US by running the information through the newly-created federal E-Verify database. The database will contain photographs taken from passport files and state driver's licenses. The law gives federal bureaucrats broad discretion in adding other “biometric” identifiers to the database. It also gives the bureaucracy broad authority to determine what features the “tamper proof” card should contain.

Apart from the possible benefits (and drawbacks) of such a system, does anyone believe the US government (and associated bureaucracy) has the expertise to implement it properly and securely?

AFAIK the easiest way to defeat bills like this is to bring it to the attention of the NRA. Just say that it can be used to build up a national database of gun owners. Gun rights proponents are typically OK with states doing this but are very wary of federal efforts to register arms.