Thread: San Diego businesses turn to ICE IMAGE program to ensure leg

San Diego businesses turn to ICE IMAGE program to ensure legal employees
Kimberly Dvorak

December 21, 2010

A little known employment verification program run by ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) is spreading throughout San Diego County and the country. IMAGE (ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers) is a relatively new tool for employers in the fight against illegal immigration.

While the E-Verify program is widely known and now used by hundreds of thousands of businesses nationwide to check their employee's legal eligibility, the IMAGE program goes far beyond fast and easy computer background checks. The IMAGE program ensures that businesses use Homeland Security's 'best hiring practices' to help detect fraudulent documents through education and training.

The IMAGE certification process gives business owners the peace of mind their current employees are legal and customers can see an IMAGE certification sticker in the window (similar to the Better Business Bureau-BBB) to show that the business is complying with all Federal laws.

“IMAGE is a win-win partnership between ICE and the business community,â€

[quote="jean"]San Diego businesses turn to ICE IMAGE program to ensure legal employees
Kimberly Dvorak

December 21, 2010

UNICEL owner Mike Henderson says he was glad to take an active role in combating the number one draw of illegal aliens to the country.

Also attending the ceremony was Jim Betz, owner of Betz Concrete which is also located in Escondido. His cement business is nearing completion of their ICE audit and they hope to have their IMAGE certification by the first of the year.

[size=150][b]“I sleep well at night knowing I am hiring American workers in this tough economy,â€