Thread: Palmdale,CA: Joins ICE IMAGE program and E-Verify!

City of Palmdale to check workers
By Karen Maeshiro, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 09/17/2008 10:15:20 PM PDT

PALMDALE - Against a backdrop of stepped-up workplace raids by U.S. immigration agents, Palmdale has become the first U.S. city to join a federal program aimed at reducing the hiring of undocumented workers.

The voluntary program emphasizes self-policing by employers and requires the use of a federal online system to verify employees' eligibility.

"We wanted a way to show that we are aware of the immigration status of our work force, and we are concerned about the people we contract with as well," said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford.

Following the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, or IMAGE program, could lower the chance of a company violating immigration laws, federal officials said.

Palmdale, which employs more than 280 people, and Swissport Cargo Services at Los Angeles International Airport are among 26 employers that have become IMAGE members.

"ICE protects national security by enforcing immigration and customs laws," ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said. "The presence of illegal workers who have gotten jobs by illegal means has been presented as a major vulnerability."

Before becoming a member, companies must complete certain requirements, including undergoing an ICE audit of I-9 worker eligibility forms and establishing an internal training program to detect fraudulent use of documents.

Firms also must use the Internet-based E-Verify system and other
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databases to screen new hires and verify Social Security numbers of their existing workers.

ICE, in turn, will provide education and training on proper hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection, use of E-Verify, and anti-discrimination procedures.

Critics say IMAGE is a flawed program that could open up firms to sanctions.

The Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center maintains that federal databases have been found to contain inaccurate and outdated information, which result in employment-eligible workers being denied employment.

"(IMAGE) relies on databases that have a lot of flaws," said Linton Joaquin, the center's general counsel. "You might get a response indicating they can't confirm that someone is authorized when, in fact, they are authorized to work."

Haley said more than 69,000 employers are enrolled in the E-Verify program, and it has handled more than 4 million inquiries in fiscal year 2008.

In the past 11 months, ICE has made about 4,700 administrative arrests for immigration violations - a nearly tenfold increase from 2002 - and 1,070 criminal arrests from worksite enforcement investigations.

More than 120 business owners, managers, supervisors or human resources employees have been accused of harboring or knowingly hiring undocumented workers, ICE said.

The United States had approximately 7 million undocumented workers in 2004, or about 5 percent of the work force, according to an estimate from The Pew Hispanic Center.

Los Angeles County for years has had an agreement with immigration authorities in which the county provides information about potential employees and the officials verify whether they are citizens or are eligible to work, county spokeswoman Judy Hammond said.

karen.maeshiro@dailynews.com

The Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center maintains that federal databases have been found to contain inaccurate and outdated information, which result in employment-eligible workers being denied employment.

"(IMAGE) relies on databases that have a lot of flaws," said Linton Joaquin, the center's general counsel. "You might get a response indicating they can't confirm that someone is authorized when, in fact, they are authorized to work."

Well then it's up to each person to correct that information asap, don't you think? I'd want to know if information on me was inaccurate and outdated, wouldn't you? Honestly, where do these morons come from?!?!

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