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”

Conducting An Internal I-9 Audit

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

Since 2009, there has been a dramatic change in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) workforce enforcement strategy. Before 2008, ICE focused its enforcement efforts almost exclusively on illegal workers. In 2009, however, ICE shifted its focus from illegal workers to employers who knowingly hired unauthorized workers. As part of its strategy of targeting employers, ICE began setting up centers around the country that are fully dedicated to worksite inspections. Continue reading “Conducting An Internal I-9 Audit”

Five Things Employers Should Consider When Conducting an I-9 Self-Audit

Mechelle Zarou
Mechelle Zarou

The year 2009 marked a dramatic change in Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (“ICE”) workforce enforcement strategy. Up until 2008, ICE focused its enforcement efforts almost exclusively on illegal workers. For instance, ICE made 6,000 workforce enforcement strategy-related arrests in 2008; only 135 of them involved employers. Starting in 2009, however, ICE shifted its focus from illegal workers to employers who knowingly hired unauthorized workers. As part of its strategy of targeting employers, ICE began setting up centers around the country that are fully dedicated to I-9 audit work. Continue reading “Five Things Employers Should Consider When Conducting an I-9 Self-Audit”

How to Respond When ICE Offers to Help

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

When someone approaches you in a friendly manner, you want to oblige. When someone smiles, your natural inclination is to smile back. So it’s no wonder that an employer may not understand the danger posed when a friendly Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) auditor shows up at the workplace to help the employer understand its recordkeeping obligations and ensure the employer is doing its paperwork properly, even promising to do so in a timely manner so as not to disrupt the employer’s business. Continue reading “How to Respond When ICE Offers to Help”

Executive Actions on Immigration… Now, what?

Maria del Carmen Ramos
Maria del Carmen Ramos

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)  is not currently accepting applications under President Obama’s Executive Actions.  This notwisthanding, if you believe you will be eligible to apply for a benefit, you can begin collecting documentation to show your identity, your relationship to a U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident, and continuous residence in the U.S. for the past five years. Continue reading “Executive Actions on Immigration… Now, what?”