Houston-based company admits to hiring illegal aliens and agrees to forfeit $2 million

Houston-based company has agreed to adhere to revised immigration compliance procedures and to pay $2 million as forfeited funds to the Department of Homeland Security related to revenue derived from the employment of illegal aliens. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas, along with Robert Rutt, special agent in […]

Washington based herb grower fined $1 million for knowingly employing illegal aliens

A Washington-based supplier of fresh organic herbs to nearly 2,700 grocers was sentenced Tuesday to $1 million in criminal fines and probation for hiring illegal aliens in a case spurred by a tip to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). In a plea agreement, the organization and three top executives admitted […]

Colorado-based Restaurant Fined for Missing I-9

Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer recently upheld fine that was imposed on a Colorado based restaurant for failing to prepare or present a Form I-9 upon request.  The Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE or the government) filed a one count complaint against the firm for incomplete or missing I-9s. […]

4 Arrested for Employing Illegal Aliens in Mississippi

The owner and three managers of three local restaurants are facing federal charges related to the conspiracy to knowingly employ illegal aliens and to harbor them from authorities following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Federal special agents arrested the owner and three managers via criminal complaint and […]

Justice Department Settles Document Abuse Claim against Department Store in California

The Justice Department announced today that it reached an agreement with a California based store, resolving allegations that the company had engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on citizenship status while verifying employment eligibility.  The department also alleged that the store discriminated against a work-authorized individual when it refused to honor a […]

12 Steps to Immigration Compliance in 2012

By Shannon Stevenson Although the presidential candidates will not be delving into all the volatile details of immigration in an election year, employers should tackle immigration issues to avoid monetary penalties and criminal sanctions. Here are 12 steps all employers should take in 2012 to comply with the myriad of immigration laws: 1. Conduct an […]

San Diego-area car wash executives plead guilty to hiring illegal alien workers

The owner and manager of a San Diego-area car wash pleaded guilty Thursday to knowingly hiring illegal aliens following a seven-month investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). At a hearing in federal court, the president and owner of the car wash in San Diego and the business manager pleaded […]

Dayton-area restaurant fined after I-9 audit

Following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Germantown Police Department, a Dayton-area restaurant has been fined more than $20,000 for failing to comply with employment eligibility verification requirements. ICE HSI conducted an I-9 inspection after receiving information from the Germantown […]

I-9 Checks Not Restricted to Big Employers

One of the largest foundries in the United States is firing 200 employees due to pressure from federal immigration authorities. The United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement is forcing the Berkeley-based company to get rid of third of its workforce because it claims those employees were in the United States illegally. The firings were a […]