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Immigration

FBI, CIA hired illegal immigrant with ties to Hezbollah

01/01/2008

The FBI and the CIA scrambled to defend their screening practices after discovering that one of their agents was an illegal immigrant with ties to Hezbollah. Officials at the FBI and the CIA insisted the agencies conducted thorough background checks …

Michigan Legislature considers illegal immigration laws

01/01/2008

While federal immigration reform remains in limbo, several Michigan lawmakers have proposed a package of bills that would crack down on companies that hire illegal immigrants. The laws would make it a felony to knowingly hire an illegal worker …

Class-Action status granted for disgruntled immigrant workers

01/01/2008

A Mexican woman has been granted permission to serve as the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against a company that recruits and places temporary agricultural workers on farms and other agricultural operations in North Carolina and other states. The woman claims that International Labor Management Corporation purposely placed women in less lucrative temporary visa programs than men …

Arizona’s Draconian Immigration Law Unnerves Employers Nationwide

12/18/2007

On Jan. 1, 2008, Arizona’s tough anti-immigration law takes effect and the state’s employers are worried. Businesses that are caught employing undocumented workers face the suspension or loss of their business license. And employers in other states are worrying about the spread of such laws to their states.

Verifying I-9 document

12/01/2007

Q. It is my understanding that employers are required to view I-9 verifying documents within three business days of an employee’s hire. My company hires employees in various states, and I cannot personally view the I-9 documentation of the out-of-state employees. What process is acceptable for completion of the I-9 verification process if I cannot personally view the required documentation? …

RCI Inc. guilty of hiring illegal immigrants

12/01/2007

Richard Rosenbaum, former president of RCI Inc., pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, to multiple counts of harboring illegal immigrants, tax evasion and fraud. Rosenbaum owes $16 million in restitution to the federal government and must forfeit more than $1.1 million in personal assets …

Illegal status doesn’t bar employee’s discrimination claim

12/01/2007

While it may be unlawful to employ illegal immigrants under the Immigration Reform and Control Act, that doesn’t mean undocumented employees can’t sue for alleged employment discrimination based on other factors, such as pregnancy. Federal courts will still entertain discrimination lawsuits, ignoring illegal status …

Pending ‘No-Match’ rules put employers in difficult positions

12/01/2007

The Social Security Administration every year sends thousands of “no-match” letters to employers asking for help matching Social Security numbers with employee names. In recent years, however, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has sought to transform the no-match letter system into a mechanism for enforcing laws against illegal immigration …

New I-9 form plus no-Match letters complicate hiring process

12/01/2007

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has just released a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, for immediate use and a new M-274, Handbook for Employers, Instructions for Completing the Form I-9 …

Start using the new I-9 form by Dec. 26

11/27/2007

Final approval of a new I-9—plus the government’s recent decision to back off on new rules for handling no-match letters—brings to a close a busy fall season in which employers’ role in immigration enforcement has been in the spotlight. What does it all mean for HR?