Thread: Sixty S. CA. firms targeted for worker eligibility check

Sixty area firms targeted for worker eligibility check

Homeland chief proposes 'seal of approval' for firms using electronic verification system

STAFF and WIRE REPORTS
November 19, 2009 7:05 pm

Immigration and Customs Enforcement inspectors are examining 60 businesses in San Diego and Imperial counties to make sure their workers are eligible for employment, the federal agency announced Thursday.

The effort is part of an audit of 1,000 businesses nationwide to check for illegal immigrant workers and comes after a similar effort in April targeted 654 businesses across the country.

The April effort included 39 businesses in San Diego and Imperial counties.

Estimates place the number of illegal immigrant workers at 6 million to 8 million nationwide.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary John Morton said the agency is committed to exposing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

"ICE is focused on finding and penalizing employers who believe they can unfairly get ahead by cultivating illegal workplaces," he said in a prepared statement.

Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano also announced Thursday that her department wants to issue a "seal of approval" to businesses volunteering to use an electronic program to check workers' immigration status.

Napolitano said the public should know which companies are following the law.

The problem with the program, known as E-Verify, is that it's still under development and the law does not require employers to use it; they are required to use a paper system.

In addition, some businesses that use E-Verify have been found to have hired illegal immigrants who used stolen, fraudulent or borrowed documents.

About 169,000 of the nation's 7 million employers use E-Verify.

Telling the public which employers use E-Verify "will let consumers know which businesses are working hard to follow the law and are committed to protecting employment opportunities," Napolitano said.

"I E-Verify," with a picture of the American flag, is on the E-Verify seal.

Below, in smaller letters, it says, "This business uses E-Verify in its hiring processes to achieve a lawful work force."

Although DHS has been working to shrink the error rate of E-Verify, the program does sometimes flag legal workers as illegal. The program also cannot determine if someone is using bogus documents.

Eric Larson, executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, said he could envision some large agricultural employers posting the sticker.

"It's a marketing decision, but E-Verify has to be a system that works," he said. "As we understand it now, the system will sometimes create a problem, with a worker who ends up getting thrown out even though they are eligible to work."

Ruben Barrales, head of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said he also has heard reports of problems with E-Verify.

"But it's still a good thing because it encourages folks to make sure their workers are eligible," he said.

Names of businesses audited in the effort launched in April, and those receiving notices that they are about be audited, are not being released.

Immigration and Customs spokeswoman Lauren Mack in San Diego said that of the 39 businesses in the first audit, nine cases are pending, five were issued notices of intent to be fined and 25 were found in compliance.

Company names will be released when the agency issues a final order on those facing penalties, Mack said.

The companies whose employee records are checked are considered critical to infrastructure.

That includes agricultural processors, large agricultural or food service employers, transportation companies and defense industry firms that have government contracts of at least $100,000.

Businesses served with audit notices were selected as a result of investigative leads and intelligence and because of their connection to public safety and national security.

Audits involve a comprehensive review of Form I-9s, which employers are required to complete and retain for each individual hired in the United States.

I-9 forms require employers to review and record each individual’s identity and work eligibility documents.

http://nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/ ... e5c49.html

Great. The American people that have lost their jobs to illegals at those firms will be thrilled to possibly have the market opened up to them again.

RELATED

150 ICE Audits In California to Come


http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-178854.html

That's a good start, with the resources they have. The next wave needs to be the millions of construction related small businesses.

They would hit the jackpot in monetary fines and seizure of illegal assets.

RELATED

We need your votes.

Do you think I-9 audits are necessary?

Vote at:
http://www.elpasotimes.com/

Total Votes = 830

Yes, employers should be held accountable.
344 Votes, or 41.44 %

Yes, U.S. citizens need those jobs.
94 Votes, or 11.32 %

No, this smacks of a witch hunt.
363 Votes, or 43.73 %

No, families will be separated.
29 Votes, or 3.493 %

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-178946.html