U.S. program to aid in assuring workers are legal
By Jacques Billeaud
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.11.2008

advertisementPHOENIX — A federal program aimed at getting businesses to hire legal workers signed up two dozen companies this week that agreed to undergo a records audit and take steps to ensure they aren't hiring illegal immigrants.

Participating employers will get advice from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on properly screening new workers, spotting fake records used in getting jobs and checking the employment eligibility of workers through a federal database.

The benefit to the government is being able to show employers the right way to scrutinize new workers. And businesses can use their participation as proof that they are trying to ensure that their work force is legal, though they won't receive any immunity for signing up.

"When you have the agency that is overseeing you advising you on the best practices, it certainly is an advantage," said Peter Holran, a spokesman for Taser International Inc., a stun-gun maker based in Arizona that has some foreign workers in its 450-person work force.
The beefing up of the program comes after the government has made high-profile busts of businesses accused of knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. It was started in 2007 and now has three dozen participants.

In making the busts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement finds itself being criticized on both sides of the immigration debate. Advocates for tougher border enforcement say immigration agents don't do enough workplace inspections and arrests, while immigrant-rights supporters believe the raids are harmful to line-level workers and the economy.
"We enforce the law, but we also believe we have a responsibility to help educate the business community so we don't get accused of playing 'gotcha,' " said Matthew Allen, the chief of investigations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona.

The agency inspects thousands of employment records each year and investigates allegations of employers knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.
Five of the new participants are in Arizona, where state law already requires employers to verify workers' eligibility through a federal database.

Companies taking part in the program must undergo an audit of hiring records to ensure their work force is legal and won't face another review from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for two years unless they are accused of illegal hiring. They also must follow rules drafted by the government.

The rules include requirements that companies use an employment-verification database, train workers on spotting fraudulent records, get an outside auditing firm to review hiring records each year and set up a hot line for employees to report allegations of illegal hiring.

Allen said participants would be freeing up the government to focus on flagrant violations of employment law, because the immigration service would know those signed up have their houses in order.

The program also can give businesses comfort in knowing they have a legal work force, Allen said.


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