Florida Governor Signs New E-Verify Law for Employers

Under pre-existing federal law, all employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each newly hired employee in order to verify the identity and eligibility of that employee to work in the United States. Continue reading “Florida Governor Signs New E-Verify Law for Employers”

DHS Provides Employers with Some I-9 Flexibility

By way of background, under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each newly hired employee. The purpose of the Form I-9 is to verify the identity of each new employee and ensure that the new employee is authorized to work in the United States. The Form I-9 contains a list of acceptable documents for establishing an employee’s identity and authorization to work. Continue reading “DHS Provides Employers with Some I-9 Flexibility”

ICE Pledges a 400% Increase in Worksite Enforcement

Maria del Carmen Ramos

Employers should brace themselves as it begins to look like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) will be targeting them more and more in their neverending quest to ferret out undocumented workers. Continue reading “ICE Pledges a 400% Increase in Worksite Enforcement”

Alert: New Form I-9 is Now Available

Maria del Carmen Ramos

Yesterday, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) released yet another updated version of the Form I-9. While employers are encouraged to start using the new Form I-9, employers are permitted to continue to use the Form I-9 with a revision date of 11/14/16 until September 17.  As of September 18, 2017, however, employers are required to use the latest version of the Form I-9, dated 07/17/17 N. Continue reading “Alert: New Form I-9 is Now Available”

Alert: USCIS to Release New Form I-9

Maria del Carmen Ramos

Just as employers were becoming used to the new Form I-9 released in January of this year, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services announced that it will be releasing yet another updated version of the Form I-9 on July 17. Continue reading “Alert: USCIS to Release New Form I-9”

USCIS releases a new version of Form I-9

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is at it again. On November 14, 2016, USCIS published a new Form I-9 for employers to begin using immediately for new hires or re-verifications. Continue reading “USCIS releases a new version of Form I-9”

Immigration Compliance Alert: Increase in Fines for Immigration Related Violations Takes Effect on August 1, 2016

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

Up until 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) focused its enforcement efforts almost exclusively on undocumented workers. For instance, ICE made 6,000 workforce enforcement strategy-related arrests in 2008; only 135 of them involved employers. Continue reading “Immigration Compliance Alert: Increase in Fines for Immigration Related Violations Takes Effect on August 1, 2016”

USCIS proposes new changes to Form I-9

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is at it again. On November 24, 2015, USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register of proposed changes to the Form I-9. The publication of the notice initiated a 60 day public comment period that will remain open until January 25, 2015. Continue reading “USCIS proposes new changes to Form I-9”

Employers May Request Alternative Documents Following an Internal I-9 Audit

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

On October 23, the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) issued a technical assistance letter (TAL) in response to an employer’s request regarding an employer’s potential liability if the employer requested additional documentation to verify an employee’s identify and ability to work in the U.S. following an internal audit of its Form I-9’s. Continue reading “Employers May Request Alternative Documents Following an Internal I-9 Audit”