The U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (USICE) reported yesterday that the owners of a poultry processing plant in Missouri where over 130 undocumented workers were arrested back in 2007 reached a settlement with the USICE on August 14, 2009 to pay a $450,000 fine as a result of a worksite enforcement investigation conducted by the USICE. The USICE will use the funds for continued worksite enforcement.
Generally, as part of these settlement agreements, businesses are directed to train all of their managers on how not to hire undocumented workers. Additionally, businesses are to devise and/or re-write company policy to ensure that their hiring and employment procedures comply with the immigration laws.
In light of the government’s increased worksite enforcement, we take the position that businesses must do everything that it can to ensure that its employees are authorized to work in the U.S. and most importantly, to conduct an internal audit of their I-9′s and gather supporting documentation to ensure compliance with the immigration laws.
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