U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today announced a new
audit initiative by issuing Notices of Inspection to 652 businesses
throughout the U.S. This number is astounding; it’s more than ICE
issued throughout all of the last fiscal year. These notices have
informed these businesses that ICE will inspect their hiring records to
make sure that the businesses are complying with federal employment
eligibility verification requirements.
“ICE is committed to establishing a meaningful I-9 inspection program
to promote compliance with the law. This nationwide effort is a first
step in ICE’s long-term strategy to address and deter illegal
employment,” said John Morto, Assistant Secretary for ICE, Department
of Homeland Security.
Federal law requires employers to fill-in and keep record of an I-9
Form for each person they hire to work in the U.S. the I-9 Form
requires employers to verify the identities and employment
authorization of their employees.
All 652 businesses that received Notices of Inspection today for I-9
audits were selected based on leads and other investigative information
obtained by ICE. Names and locations of these businesses have not yet
been released by ICE.