Audit of companies underway by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(7/7/2009)



The Obama administration is going to crackdown on companies employing illegal immigrants according to a report from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has started an audit of over 650 companies to verify if employees were eligible to work. It's not clear how severe penalties might be if an employer is discovered to have hired illegal workers but violations could lead to fines as well as civil and criminal charges. The announcement comes as President Obama attempts to gain support for a new policy that put millions of illegal immigrants on the path to become U.S. citizens.

Enforcement activity during the Bush administration was known by high-profile raids where hundreds of illegal immigrants were rounded up. A series of raids at JBS Swift and Company meatpacking plants in December 2006 resulted in 1200 workers being detained. The policy led to large numbers of deportations. This new enforcement approach isn't set up to bring immediate deportations.


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