Immigration audit a trend of "e-raids?"

FOX 13 News
6:38 p.m. MDT, September 1, 2011

SALT LAKE CITY—
In years past, federal agents have raided businesses and rounded up suspected illegal immigrants into buses and hauled them off to detention centers. But in the latest employment enforcement action at Salt Lake City's Grand America Hotel, Latino community activists say they focused on paperwork.

"I don't think it would look good to have ICE agents and Homeland Security buses in front of the Grand America, saying 'Let's round 'em up,' " said Tony Yapias, the director of Proyecto Latino de Utah.

The immigration audit that wrapped up Wednesday at the hotel focused on I-9s, forms that every employee has to fill out. In a statement, the hotel said that those who provided sufficient identification to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security were able to continue their employment. Those who could not provide documentation of their right to work in the U.S. could no longer be employed after Wednesday, hotel representatives said.

Yapias said he estimated about 120 people lost their jobs. He said over the past couple of years, he has observed federal immigration agents no longer conducting workplace raids but quietly conducting paper audits.

"They have moved into the electronic raids, basically is what this is," Yapias told Fox 13.

Tim Wheelwright, an immigration and employment attorney, said he has also seen a similar practice.

"Anytime something like this happens, it's a wake-up call for the business community," he said in an interview Thursday with Fox 13.

Wheelwright chairs an immigration subcommittee with the Davis Chamber of Commerce and sits on an immigration task force for the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce. He said employers can only do so much with the documentation and identification that they are given. However, should a business become the subject of an immigration audit, an employer can show a good faith effort was made.

"Make sure they have a properly completed I-9 form for every current employee," Wheelwright said. "There's nothing more important for any employer to do, large or small, than to make sure they have that current I-9 form."

Wheelwright said the government offers other federal programs like e-Verify and a Social Security number verification, but emphasized keeping I-9 forms current for every employee.

For small business owner Jessica McCleary, she hopes that she is complying with employment laws. McCleary employs about 10 people at the Mountain Town Olive Oil Co. in Park City and at Salt Lake City's Gateway mall. She said she tries to make sure the paperwork is filled out completely and she has accurate documentation.

"Whether somebody comes into the store and they're so qualified, but you're not sure if they're going to ultimately be legal or illegal," she said. "It's always a worry."

http://www.fox13now.com/news/kstu-grand ... 4800.story