3 Mississippi businesses become IMAGE partners with ICE

I.C.E. News Release

April 9, 2012
Biloxi, MS

3 Mississippi businesses become IMAGE partners with ICE

VT Halter Marine, United States Marine, INC. and DCD Construction, INC. sign agreements

BILOXI, Miss. – Three Mississippi businesses signed agreements today with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to become members of the IMAGE program, short for "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers." VT Halter Marine, United States Marine, INC., and DCD Construction, INC., joined IMAGE, which provides businesses an opportunity to partner with the agency to develop a more secure and stable workforce.

The three companies are part of only a handful of companies in the state that have undergone the rigorous IMAGE certification process. As part of this process, they have completed extensive training and rigorous evaluation of their hiring processes.

At the signing ceremony today, Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., special agent in charge of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans said, "ICE recognizes that the highest level of employment integrity can only be achieved through close coordination with industry partners. VT Halter Marine, United States Marine, INC. and DCD Construction, INC. will join IMAGE business participants around the country who are committed to protecting the integrity of their workforce by helping ensure that their employees are who they represent themselves to be."

The companies echoed similar sentiments by saying their acceptance into the IMAGE program not only solidified their positions as responsible corporate citizens, it reaffirmed their pride in the diversity of their compliant workforce. The contributions of their workforce strengthen the economy and embody the American ideal of hard work. Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in the marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits and stealing identities of legal workers. The IMAGE program provides employers with screening tools to prevent unauthorized workers from being hired.

The IMAGE program was initiated in 2006 with partners from around the United States and a wide range of industries, including: employment services, aviation, transportation, construction, high technology, shipping and manufacturing. By signing the IMAGE contract for full membership, businesses establish a formal partnership with law enforcement to follow the best hiring practices recommended by the program, train their staff to uphold the high standards required by the program and use the tools offered by the federal government to screen employees and ensure they are lawfully authorized to work.

IMAGE members work with ICE to meet the standards set by the program. In addition, they partner with ICE officials to assess their business practices and improve the way they hire, process 1-9 forms, maintain employment records and otherwise comply with U.S. laws regarding employment. The E- Verify program is administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Through this program, employers can verify that newly hired employees are eligible to work in the United States. This Internet-based program is available in all 50 states and is free to employers. E-verify provides an automated link to the Social Security Administration database and Department of Homeland Security immigration records.

Mississippi-area employers interested in the IMAGE program may contact the local IMAGE coordinator at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.

For more information, visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE is a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423 or complete our tip form.

U.S. Dept of Homeland Security

3 Mississippi businesses become IMAGE partners with ICE

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -

Three major coast employers signed an agreement Monday with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. In it, they promised to work together to make sure all their employees are in this country legally.

Raymond Parmer is the special agent in charge of immigration and customs enforcement for this region of the country. He said the program IMAGE, or ICE Mutual Agreement with Employers, is a voluntary employer outreach aimed as reduce the number of illegal workers.

"The simple fact is in today's world, it is essential for law enforcement to work with the private sector," said Parmer.

The Chief Financial Officer with VT Halter Marine signed the agreement. The company does business with the government, as does United States Marine.

"They will train our employees on how to use e-verify," said United States Marine Co-Chairman John Dane III. "Our goal is to make sure we have the proper personnel with the proper paperwork to show they're citizens with the right to work here."

The President of Decorative Concrete Design also signed the IMAGE agreement.

There have been several illegal immigration raids at businesses around South Mississippi recently. The IMAGE contract shows these companies are anxious to be compliant with federal law.

"It says a great deal about the integrity of their workforce," Parmer said. "It's a big deal for us, considering the size of these three companies."

ICE will train companies in the IMAGE program and offer guidance to make sure they have a legal workforce.

IMAGE program takes aim at illegal workers - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi