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Immigration

Immigration: Know Your ‘Border Guard’ Responsibilities

08/01/2007

Immigration reform was a hot topic in Washington during the first half of 2007, but Congress ultimately failed to pass legislation to tighten enforcement of decades-old laws that regulate which foreign-born workers are eligible to work in the United States. Fairly or not, look for employers and the HR functions to bear much of the enforcement responsibilities. Your best bet: Make sure you document employees’ eligibility to work by thoroughly completing and maintaining up-to-date I-9 forms …

Immigration reform: States pick up ball U.S. Senate dropped

07/17/2007

When the U.S. Senate failed to pass comprehensive immigration-reform legislation last month, the problem didn’t go away. Now states are stepping in to craft local solutions to problems related to undocumented immigrants. Employers are likely to bear the enforcement burden.

Prevent hostile-environment lawsuits: No teasing allowed

07/01/2007

Many employees today are sensitive about their ethnic backgrounds, but may hesitate to report teasing or name-calling for fear of being seen as troublemakers. That means a lawsuit could be brewing …

Georgia CEO says immigration bill doesn’t equal amnesty

07/01/2007

Some call the on-again, off-again (on, as of press time) U.S. Senate immigration-reform bill an offer of “amnesty” for millions of lawbreaking, undocumented immigrants. But Tommy Bagwell, CEO of American Proteins, Inc.—a poultry byproducts rendering plant in Cumming—says that’s hogwash …

Immigration reform bill stalls, but president vows to revive it

06/12/2007

The immigration-reform bill backed by a bipartisan groups of Senators and President Bush stalled out last week, the victim of objections from both ends of the political spectrum. But the president says he will push hard for reintroduction this summer, and many Capitol Hill watchers say the issue is just too important to ignore.

Spike in immigration raids: enforcement or politics?

06/01/2007

Immigration raids at U.S. workplaces have jumped by more than 50 percent in the past six months, according to new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stats. ICE is also stepping up prosecution of employers

Migrant Workers: How You Gonna Keep ‘Em Down on the Farm?

06/01/2007

Fearing labor shortages even higher than last year’s 20 to 25 percent, Michigan farmers are appealing to Congress to streamline the current H-2A visa program, allowing illegal immigrants to stay in the United States without penalties …

IRS calculators get workout: What’s the back interest on $18 million?

06/01/2007

Three executives of Rosenbaum-Cunningham International—a West Palm Beach maintenance company serving such restaurant chains as the House of Blues, Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood—have been indicted for defrauding the federal government out of $18 million in employment taxes …

53 employees plead guilty in Texas immigration case

06/01/2007

Richard B. Roper, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, recently announced that six more former Swift & Co. employees pleaded guilty to document fraud and illegal entry into the country …

HR groups troubled by immigration reform bill

05/22/2007

The immigration reforms being debated in the U.S. Senate could burden employers and HR professionals with an unwieldy and complex worker-verification system, say HR advocacy groups. Here are their specific concerns, plus how the legislation could affect you …