The recent Federal election makes it unlikely that there will be major immigration reform in the near future. No changes by Congress are needed, however, for employers to be concerned about how they handle compliance with I-9 forms and other immigration law matters. This year, ICE criminally charged 180 business owners, employers and managers in connection with worksite investigations, compared to 135 in 2009. ICE conducted more than 2,200 I-9 audits in 2010 compared to 1,400 last year.
In the past six weeks in the Southern California area, four different business firms have been charged with crimes under immigration law. The President and owner of Brownwood Furniture in Ladera Ranch, CA as well as the company Vice President were just charged with obstruction of justice and continuing to employ unauthorized workers by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
On Oct. 15, ICE announced that the owner of a San Diego area bakery and three of its employees were facing federal criminal conspiracy charges due to the company’s hiring practices.
In a three count criminal indictment filed in Federal Court, the owner of S & S Bakery, two supervisors and one employee are charged with harboring illegal aliens. If convicted, each person faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 fine on each count.
Earlier in October, the owner and two top executives of Masters in Metal Inc. of Oxnard, CA were also arrested for knowingly hiring undocumented aliens. In late September ICE agents arrested the manager of a Bell, CA, Parker Personnel Inc. for similar immigration violations.
Don’t join the ranks of business owners and executives increasingly being charged with criminal violations of immigration law.
If you would like an I-9 audit of your records, just e-mail DonDressler1@hotmail.com
Don Dressler
