Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has sent out another 1,000 notices of inspection (NOIs) to U.S. businesses, demanding that they provide I-9 Employment Verification Form proof of their employees' legal right to work in the United States. (A sample letter is shown at right.)
The Form I-9 is required of all new hires and employees at all American companies except for those employees who have been in continuous employment at the same company prior to the passage of the law in 1986.
While ICE officials would not reveal the names or industry codes for the businesses being targeted, the Wall Street Journal reports that they are believed to be in the restaurant, food processing, high-tech manufacturing and agriculture industries. Fines for non-compliance range from $110 to $1,100 per violation, depending on its nature.
ICE officials confirmed to the WSJ that they have audited some 10,000 firms in the past four years, netting the government more than $100 million in fines and penalties.
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