What is Form I-9 and What is the Importance of I-9 Compliance?
How compliant is your company with the Form I-9 requirements? Since 1986, the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) has mandated the use of a Form I-9 by all U.S. employers. This form is used for employment eligibility verification of all newly hired employees – both citizen and non-citizen – and must be completed within three business days of employment.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-303-658-9342
Illegal Immigrant Hiring Crack Down
Illegal Immigration hiring crack down. The enforcement approach allows both Democrats and Republicans to argue that they’re tackling illegal immigration even in the absence of major new legislation on the issue. Both sides can tout enforcement as an effort to protect American workers from illegal immigrants, perceived as creating unfair competition for scarce jobs.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-303-658-9342
The Cost of Non-Compliance With Immigration Requirements
The Obama administration has changed the direction of its efforts from the previous administration from going after illegal workers to now targeting the employers who hire them. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano has directed ICE to focus it efforts on the auditing and investigation of employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. In 2010, ICE criminally charged a record-breaking 180 business owners, employers, managers and/or supervisors, up from 114 in 2009 and 135 in 2008. Additionally in 2010, ICE conducted more than 2,200 I-9 audits – up from more than 1,400 in 2009. That’s proof enough that ICE means business.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-303-658-9342
ICE to Audit Hiring Records of Companies for Compliance
The Obama Administration is increasing pressure on employers to only hire qualified employees. ICE will audit 1,000 companies’ I-9 files and the documents employees used to fill out the form.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-303-658-9342
Punishing Employers: ICE has a Renewed Commitment
The strategy is a 2-pronged approach. It includes aggressive criminal and civil penalties against employers who knowingly violate immigration laws, and continues to implement programs such as E-Verify (verifies employment eligibility to work in the United States) and IMAGE.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
What Businesses Are Targets For Ice Inspections?
ICE selects the businesses that will be targeted for inspection. Certain industries may be under closer watch, such as construction, manufacturing, hotels and restaurants. However, all employers are subject to inspection. It doesn’t mean just because your business is not in one of these categories that ICE won’t visit you next.
Many, many times, ICE acts on the basis of a tip from a “concerned citizen”. Some ICE raids are the result of a tip form a disgruntled employee, unhappy customer, or mean-spirited competitor.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
What Should Employers Know Right Now
Under the Bush administration, the focus of worksite enforcement actions was arresting illegal aliens. Under the Obama administration, however, the focus of the Department of Homeland Security (”DHS”) has shifted to criminal prosecution of employers. DHS made this clear in an April 30, 2009, memorandum setting out its worksite enforcement strategy and in a corresponding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (”ICE”) Worksite Enforcement Fact Sheet.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
When Hiring Employees – Complying With Immigration Law
Last July, the federal government issued over 500 notices to businesses, informing them that they would be audited by the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for compliance with immigration law. In one month, ICE performed more audits than it did all last year. In November, the Department of Homeland Security announced that another 1000 companies would be sent audit notices by ICE that month.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
http://www.youradvocate.net/articles/032410.pdf
Avoid Immigration Disaster For Your Business
Develop an easy to follow written immigration policy including the basics of Form I-9 preparation, the I-9 storage and retention rules and a summary of both the federal and state immigration rules.
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
5 Tips to Help I-9 Compliance
By now, you know that the U.S. government has been performing widespread investigations and audits of employers to crack down on employment of undocumented noncitizens. You should also be aware that you must maintain Form I-9, an employment authorization verification form issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), for all your workers.
W. Garnett & Assocites
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
