ICE ISSUES NOTICES OF INSPECTION TO 1000 US BUSINESSES

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Wednesday it is issuing 1,000 Notice of Inspection to companies across the US requiring employers to demonstrate their employees are work authorized. ICE will inspect their I-9s, the forms that new employees must complete to demonstrate employment eligibility, along with documents the workers provided to show they can legally work in the U.S. Targeted companies include both small and large businesses including well known corporations and entities in every state.
“The inspections will touch on employers of all sizes and in every state in the nation, with an emphasis on businesses related to critical infrastructure and key resources,” ICE said in a statement. Investigations stemmed from leads and tips received by ICE over several months.

To decrease the number of violators as well as to ensure compliance across the board, ICE is promoting it’s “ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers” (IMAGE) program – – a voluntary program that allows private industries to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents.

Companies sign on a partnership agreement after conducting self-assessments of their hiring practices, enrolled in employment eligibility verification programs (i.e. E-Verify and the Social Security Number Verification Service), training their staff on IMAGE Best Employment Practices and how to use the new screening tools; as well as undergoing a Form I-9 employment eligibility verification audit conducted by ICE.