Friday, September 17, 2010

Businesses wary as ICE announces more I-9 audits

By Péralte C. Paul
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

They’re saying, ‘Are we compliant? Are our I-9s in order?’ I think companies are starting to see that this isn’t something that we can sweep under the rug.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials last month informed Congress that the agency is auditing employers nationwide to see whether they are hiring undocumented workers.

Fines for paperwork violations range from $110 to $1,100, and knowingly hiring undocumented workers can cost a company up to $11,000 per violation.

Immigration attorneys say enterprises in areas such as manufacturing, hotels and hospitality, construction, and janitorial services face additional scrutiny because of past problems with illegal workers.

Under the Bush administration, which sought immigration reform as well, the focus was on illegal employees, he said.

Now, ICE’s level of scrutiny hasn’t changed with the Obama administration, but the agency seems to be focusing its enforcement on employers, lawyers say.


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