DHS Sues Michigan Company to Recover Over $41,000 In I-9 Violations
DHS has filed a lawsuit against a Detroit-area automobile plastics company to recover a $41,360 fine which was assessed following an I-9 audit.
Read the full article linked below.
http://everifyandi9news.com/?p=488
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
Immigration Compliance Enforcement (ICE) Announces 1000 Audits On Businesses
ICE announces update on compliance audits. The 1,000 businesses served with audit notices this week were selected for inspection as a result of investigative leads and intelligence and because of the business’ connection to public safety and national security-for example, privately owned critical infrastructure and key resources. The names and locations of the businesses will not be released at this time due to the ongoing, law enforcement sensitive nature of these audits.
You can read the full article linked below.
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/2009/11/ice-announces-1000-audits.html
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
A $450K Fine for Hiring Undocumented Workers Paid By a Missouri Plant
A huge fine was paid by a Missouri plant for undocumented workers. The Department of State’s October 2009 Visa Bulletin shows a cut-off date for employment-based third preference visa numbers of June 1, 2002, for all chargeability areas except for China-mainland born (February 22, 2002); India (April 15, 2001); and Mexico (May 1, 2002).
Link to the full article below.
http://garfinkel.clickcom.com/2009/10/31/october-2009/
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
American Apparel Audited By ICE Agents For Violating Immigration Laws
American Apparel was hit hard by the ICE Audits. Over 300 companies had received audit notices at the same time as American Apparel, but almost all the news coverage has focused on American Apparel. Dov Charney, company founder and CEO, is an outspoken advocate of changing U.S. immigration policy, speaking out in support of the company’s Legalize LA campaign and challenging the morality of standing silent while a whole section of human beings are persecuted. Charney is also infamous for American Apparel ads that are even more degrading to women than most, and for an atmosphere of sexual harassment of women employees—but that is not why the government is going after him. The American Apparel factory officially shuts down every May 1st and the workers march in their thousands in annual immigrants rights protests in downtown L.A. As the American Apparel website says: “Why do we support immigration reform? Simple answer: Humanity.” It seems likely to many that American Apparel was targeted specifically because of Charney’s stance on immigration and his open opposition to government persecution of the undocumented.
You can read the full article linked below.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/10/27/18626913.php
W. Garnett & Associates
Human Capital Management
1-888-884-3910
Be Prepared for Surprise Enforcement Site Visits: Employer Alert
Employers be aware of the on-site inspections. As part of the Department of Homeland Security’s stepped-up enforcement efforts that include increased audits of businesses to detect immigration and labor law violations, employers are reporting random, unannounced visits by the Fraud Detection and National Security Division (FDNS) of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. FDNS inspectors often use a script of questions and ask to speak with an employer representative and any foreign workers. FDNS is also using what it learns to add fraud indicators to its database in an effort to identify patterns and potential fraud during adjudications.
Read the full article linked below.
W. Garnett & Associates
1-888-884-3910
Labor Department Audit Hits Home after a Random Audit – Qdoba Paying Back Wages After Audit
The Department of Labor says a company that runs Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants in nine states is paying $13,865 in back wages to 187 employees.
Link to the full article below.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13422842
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
ICE is Back on the “Notice of Inspection” War Path – Is Your Company Prepared?
Recently, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) revealed that it soon plans to audit more than 600 employers nationwide for compliance with hiring laws. In addition, a number of state and local jurisdictions are implementing requirements for employers to verify the status of workers and performing inspections targeting illegal workers who use false documents. Companies need to examine their hiring practices to avoid the disruption and negative publicity that can accompany a federal or local enforcement action.
Link to the full article below.
http://todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2009/08/immigration-law-compliance.html
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
Operator of Employment Agency Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Harboring Illegal Aliens
ATLANTA – A 37-year-old man was sentenced to five years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to harbor illegal aliens following a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation.
According to court records, from 2001 to 2003, Laing Yang, of Duluth, Ga., operated an employment agency in Atlanta which found jobs in Chinese restaurants, predominantly for illegal Hispanic workers. He returned to the employment agency and his illegal activity in November 2007.
Read the full article linked below.
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/0907/090713atlanta.htm
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
ICE Turns Up Heat With Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) Audits
On July 1st – just before the long hot Fourth of July holiday weekend – the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) turned up the heat on U.S. employers by issuing Notices of Inspection (NOIs) to 652 businesses nationwide to determine whether or not they were complying with employment eligibility verification (Form I-9) laws and regulations.
Employers are required to complete and retain an Employment Eligibility Verification form – also known as Form I-9 – for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This form requires employers to review and record the individual’s identity document or documents and determine whether the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and related to the individual.
The full article is linked below.
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultant
1-888-884-3910
A well known national brand fined for hiring illegal workers? Krispy Kreme
Don’t let this happen to you because of a lack of a Form I-9 compliance process.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, said an inspection revealed the company had employed dozens of unauthorized workers at a doughnut factory in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The audit found the firm did not have required paperwork for all workers at the plant. The fine was settled last Friday, ICE said.
As part of the settlement, Krispy Kreme has taken measures to revise its immigration compliance program, and has agreed to begin implementing new procedures to prevent future violations of federal immigration laws, ICE said.
Read the entire article linked below
http://www.reuters.com/article/BROKER/idUSN0734790620090708
W. Garnett & Associates, HR Consultants To The World
www.wgarnett.com
1-888-884-3910
