BREAKING News From ICE…
This Is HUGE!!!
WASHINGTON – Less than seven months after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Deputy Director Thomas Homan issued a directive that called for increased worksite enforcement
investigations to ensure U.S. businesses maintain a culture of compliance, the agency's Homeland
Security Investigations (HSI) has already doubled the amount of ongoing worksite cases
this fiscal year compared to the last fully completed fiscal year.
From Oct. 1, 2017, through May 4, HSI opened 3,510 worksite investigations; initiated 2,282
I-9 audits; and made 594 criminal and 610 administrative worksite-related arrests, respectively.
In comparison, for fiscal year 2017 – running October 2016 to September 2017 – HSI opened
1,716 worksite investigations; initiated 1,360 I-9 audits; and made 139 criminal arrests
and 172 administrative arrests related to worksite enforcement.
"Our worksite enforcement strategy continues to focus on the criminal prosecution of employers
who knowingly break the law, and the use of I-9 audits and civil fines to encourage compliance
with the law," said Acting Executive Associate Director for HSI, Derek N. Benner.
"HSI's worksite enforcement investigators help combat worker exploitation, illegal wages,
child labor and other illegal practices."
ICE is the federal agency responsible for upholding the laws established by the Immigration
Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986, which requires employers to verify the identity
and work eligibility of all individuals they hire.
These laws help protect jobs for U.S. citizens and others who are lawfully employed, eliminate
unfair competitive advantages for companies that hire an illegal workforce, and strengthen
public safety and national security.
Under federal law, employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility
of all individuals they hire, and to document that information using the Employment Eligibility
Verification Form I-9.
ICE uses the I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law, part of a comprehensive
strategy to address and deter illegal employment.
Inspections are one of the most powerful tools the federal government uses to ensure that
businesses are complying with U.S. employment laws.
A notice of inspection alerts business owners that ICE is going to audit their hiring records
to determine whether they are complying with existing law.
Employers are required to produce their company's I-9s within three business days, after which
ICE will conduct an inspection for compliance.
If employers are not in compliance with the law, an I-9 inspection of their business will
likely result in civil fines and could lay the groundwork for criminal prosecution if
they are knowingly violating the law.
All workers encountered during these investigations who are unauthorized to remain in the United
States are subject to administrative arrest and removal from the country.
Failure to follow the law can result in criminal and civil penalties.
In FY17, businesses were ordered to pay $97.6 million in judicial forfeitures, fines and
restitution, and $7.8 million in civil fines, including one company whose financial penalties
represented the largest payment ever levied in an immigration case.
"Employers need to understand that the integrity of their employment records is just as important
to the federal government as the integrity of their tax files and banking records.
All industries, regardless of size, location and type are expected to comply with the law,"
Benner said.
"Worksite enforcement protects jobs for U.S. citizens and others who are lawfully
employed, eliminates unfair competitive advantages for companies that hire an illegal workforce,
and strengthen public safety and national security."
HSI's worksite enforcement strategy includes leveraging the agency's other investigative
disciplines, since worksite investigations can often involve additional criminal activity,
such as alien smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, document fraud, worker exploitation
and/or substandard wage and working conditions.
HSI uses a three-pronged approach to worksite enforcement: compliance, from I-9 inspections,
civil fines and referrals for debarment; enforcement, through the criminal arrest of employers and
administrative arrest of unauthorized workers; and outreach, through the ICE Mutual Agreement
between Government and Employers, or IMAGE program, to instill a culture of compliance
and accountability.
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