The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has recently been conducting “raids,” leading to the arrest of undocumented immigrants. States like Mississippi, West Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania have all seen raids; several arrests have happened. As an employer, you may have employed undocumented workers either intentionally or unbeknownst to you.
For over thirty years, the U.S. government has mandated that employers complete Form I-9 for each of their employees as proof that they are authorized to work in this country. In recent years, the crackdown on undocumented workers has increased, with ICE ramping up their strategy to enforce compliance. The day after President Trump took his seat in the White House a revised I-9 form was circulated, emphasizing the importance of worker authorization. This is a serious matter, where I-9 compliance is mandatory. Here are some tips to protect your company and your employees in the face of a raid.
-Understand your rights during an ICE raid, as without a warrant, no “raids” or arrests can be made. Have a lawyer on hand in the event of an emergency.
-Make sure every employee I-9 form is correct, completed, and up to date. Have the forms organized and readily available.
-Utilize the E-Verify platform, a service that shows the eligibility of workers in the United States.
-Have every employee complete the new I-9 form as of January 22, 2017.
-With new hires, strictly enforce a three-day rule to complete the I-9 form.
-Conduct your own random checks on I-9 forms and employee verification.