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Employer I-9s Targeted for Immigration Enforcement

Employers who hire unauthorized workers top priority for ICE

By Deanne Harvey
Fines

Fines for knowingly hiring an
unauthorized worker:

  • 1st Time $375 to $3,200
  • 2nd Time $3,200 to $6,500
  • 3rd Time $4,300 to $16,000

 

Paperwork Violations:

  • Range from $110 to $1100 per form depending on the size of the employer, good faith evidence, seriousness, history of violations and unauthorized workers.
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On July 1, 2009 the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) launched a strict new initiative by issuing Notices of Inspections (NOIs)
of I-9 forms to over 600 businesses in the United States. This is a significant increase in the number of audits compared to the entire previous fiscal year. Companies that have not conducted a recent
internal review on compliance of I-9 forms are suggested to do so.

ICE is inspecting hiring records for compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) and other immigration-related laws. ICE considers I-9 inspections an important tool to support a department-wide focus on targeting employers who hire unauthorized workers. This was verified when the agency told its field agency to aggressively go after violators. ICE issued 503 NOIs total in the entire 2008 fiscal year. In July, 652 inspections confirmed the ICE strategy of increased I-9 inspections. The civil monetary penalties have high stakes. See the fines below for violation in documenting.

The current I-9 form became effective for new hires on April 3, 2009. The main difference between the revised Form I-9 and the old one is that all documents presented during the verification process must be unexpired. Check www.uscis.gov for updates on the form.

Simple mistakes on I-9s are very common. Most companies make small errors that can be time consuming to correct and set them up for costly fines. Odyssey OneSource can be your first line of defense - we review I-9 forms in our client’s new/rehire packets and take proactive measures to insure that they are filled out correctly.

To find out more about this and other services, contact us toll-free at (888) 680-8800 or use our contact form

Odyssey OneSource has an I-9 tutorial with instructions for completing the form.
Learn to fill out all I-9s correctly the first time, every time, protecting your business.


You can watch the tutorial online now as well as read the I-9 Handbook for Employers by visiting this link

Watch I-9 Tutorial

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