Thread: MA. housing authority partners with I.C.E. "IMAGE"

A Massachusetts housing authority partners with "IMAGE" program

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sent this bulletin at 11/18/2011 09:48 AM EST

BOSTON — A Massachusetts-based housing authority has signed the state's first-ever agreement between a local housing authority and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to strengthen hiring practices and to combat the unlawful employment of illegal aliens.

The Lowell Housing Authority has signed "IMAGE" or "ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers," a voluntary program that allows a partnership with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents.

"This partnership enables ICE to recognize the highest level of employment integrity that promotes a healthy, safe, and productive work environment that can only be achieved with the cooperation of the entire community," said Bruce M. Foucart, special agent in charge of ICE's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston. "We applaud the Lowell Housing Authority for joining IMAGE business participants around the country who are committed to protecting the integrity of their workforce by helping to ensure that their employees are lawfully represented."

The Lowell Housing Authority (LHA) was founded in 1937 and throughout its history has proudly achieved the highest performance rating from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The LHA serves the residents of the Lowell, Mass., with an unwavering commitment to provide safe, affordable housing for the people who need it most. LHA recognizes the ever changing needs of the community guided by prudent financial restraints of a public subsidy corporation.

"This partnership with ICE sends a clear message to other housing providers, local government, and our residents, that we recognize the benefits of promoting a legal workforce," said Gary K. Wallace, executive director of LHA. "We value our membership in this important program."

To qualify for IMAGE certification, LHA will perform the following requirements:
•Enroll in the E-Verify program within 60 days;
•Establish a written hiring and employment eligibility verification policy that includes internal Form I-9 audits at least once per year; and
•Submit to a Form I-9 inspection.

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legal United States workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

Upon enrollment in and commitment to the IMAGE Best Employment Practices, program participants are deemed "IMAGE certified," a distinction DHS and ICE believe will become an industry standard. IMAGE also provides to all employers free training on the Form I-9, fraudulent document detection, and building a solid immigration compliance model.

Companies interested in more information on the IMAGE program can call the ICE office in Boston at (617)565-6286, or visit www.ICE.gov/IMAGE.

RELATED NEWS RELEASES:
•Boston-area businesses focus on 'IMAGE' in the community
•Several major US employers join ICE employment compliance program
•ICE reaches out to national payroll group in Boston on worksite enforcement

http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletin ... ICE-1d53c1

Why just for hiring practices? It should also be used for housing applicants. Guess who came to my mind first.

LHA, ICE in agreement on illegal aliens

lowellsun.com
By John Collins,
Updated: 11/18/2011 12:11:50 PM EST

LOWELL -- Gary Wallace, the executive director of the Lowell Housing Authority signed papers and shook hands this morning with Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Boston, to form a partnership in a program that combats the unlawful employment of illegal aliens.

The Lowell Housing Authority became the first public housing authority in the state to sign a partnership with the U.S. Immigration office, Wallace said.

The media gathered at the LHA's Moody Street headquarters to document the event.

"We are proud that the Lowell Public Housing Authority holds the distinction of being the first public housing authority in Massachusetts to sign this 'IMAGE' ("ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employees" ) partnership agreement," said Wallace. "It is our hope that we can provide the symbolism and leadership for the other 340 housing authorities in Massachusetts to join the program, and for the contractors that we do business with will follow suit as well."

Employers who allow themselves to hire illegal immigrants often aid the criminal element in society, including those intending to conduct terrorist activities, Foucart said.

"I'm extremely proud, happy, and would like to commend the Lowell Housing Authority today for joining up and becoming a certified IMAGE program participant with us," said Foucart. "It's much more than just an agreement -- it's about integrity, and this company agreeing to have a legal and compliant workforce, and being willing not to feed into illegal immigration."

Though the IMAGE program is voluntary, Wallace said he favors it becoming mandatory. "There's no reason why agencies should not sign up to ensure that legal residents are working for government and for private contractors.," said Wallace.

Wallace said the Lowell Housing Authority has about 100 employees whose employment records will be scrutinized anew, using the guidelines of the IMAGE program, to search for any illegal workers.

"Yes, I would be very surprised to find that any of our personnel are illegally employed here," said Wallace.





Read more: http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/c ... z1e4yTLZEI

Originally Posted by Ratbstard

Why just for hiring practices? It should also be used for housing applicants. Guess who came to my mind first. :x

I agree, but under current federal law IMAGE/E-VERIFY can only be used for employment verification.
We need to get that law changed.

Still, a step in the right direction. One thing at a time I guess.