More than 650 U.S. businesses to have employee work files audited

In an ongoing effort to target employers who may be hiring illegal immigrants, the federal government issued notices to more than 650 businesses around the nation this morning announcing plans to audit their employee work files for possible discrepancies.

Nearly 50 of the companies are in Los Angeles, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said. Other companies are in New York City, San Antonio, Seattle, San Diego and elsewhere. The companies were identified through tips and leads, officials said.

This is the largest number of such notices to be issued on a single day, officials said. A total of 503 such notices were issued around the nation during the entire 2008 fiscal year.

Immigration authorities said the agency is trying to hold employers accountable and to ensure a legal workforce. “It’s part of a bold new strategy,” said agency spokeswoman Pat Reilly. “Part of the strategy is to let businesses know we mean business.”

The Obama administration has made employer enforcement a cornerstone of its immigration enforcement policy. Earlier this year, the federal government issued new guidelines to immigration agents to focus on employers who hire illegal immigrants rather than just arresting undocumented workers. The government is also working to improve and expand E-verify, an employment verification program.

As part of its new strategy, the immigration agency also told 80 companies, including three in Los Angeles, that it planned to issue fines because a large number of employees appeared to be unauthorized to work. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had earlier conducted audits on those companies’ records.

The fines will become final in 30 days if the companies do not request hearings before an administrative law judge, Reilly said. If the companies continue to employ workers without authorization, they could face civil or criminal action.

One of those companies, Los Angeles-based American Apparel, was told by the government that 1,600 of its roughly 10,000 employees may not be authorized to work and that the employment status of another 200 could not be verified.

Peter Schey, an attorney for the Los Angeles-based clothing company, said that the company is working with the government and the employees to check the identity and employment status. If their status cannot be verified, Schey said, they will have to be terminated.

Schey said that that despite American Apparel’s cooperation with the federal government’s rules on checking employee’s status, “any manufacturing company in an area with a large immigrant community is inevitably going to have employees using unauthorized documents.” “That is just a reality in life today in light of the broken immigration system,” he said.

-- Anna Gorman

Comments

[Chris]

It's about time... now maybe some 'documented' citizens who have lost their jobs can get one.

[Joe, California]

This is another media stunt to make the inexperienced person in command appear to be really doing something constructive. If the government was sincere, then why are most democratic politicans opposed to E-verify? it is smoke and mirrors. If you look at a lot of recent news articles regarding E-verify, it shows that the liberals are against it! Now as another medis stunt, they claim to support it? What is it? real support for American workers or another liberal stunt? E-verify WORKS, USE IT!

[John Hirsch]

This is good news.

Next, make sure that those who have "documents" are not identity thieves. crossmatch their names to spouses names and social security then check the spouses where they live. THere are so many ways you can investigate fraud.

[Estoban]

So it's going to be scheduled audits instead of raids. That will keep enforcement to a minimum with no one getting punished for breaking the law. What weaklings we have in Washington enforcing our laws and protecting Americans from invasion.

[Sal]

oh Puh leeze,,, I am so tired of hearing how, the "Illegals" are stealing American jobs,, ,how many of you are going to work in a sweat shop for minimum wage,, or pick fruit in the fields. This country would come to an abrupt stop if the "illegals" stopped doing slave labor for low wages. You should be glad they are hear and willing to do the work.

[Jacki Headley]

This is amazing! I am an employer in California also hiring many immigrants. We have been participating in the E-Verify program for years. This is good for employees because the pool of applicants is smaller and in order to get great qualified employees we must offer an attractive package of wages and benifits. If American Apparel is actively supporting immigration reform they must know about the E-Verify program and as supportive as they say they are about their workers, wouldn't they want to insure their workers job security by participating in the E-Verify program?

[Delaware Bob]

Well, this is good news. What are they going to do with the ILLEGAL ALIENS that are working at these businesses. Are they going to deport them?

Is California ready for a State Illegal Immigration Law, Yet?

If you get rid of the ILLEGAL ALIENS there, you can save about $19 BILLION a year in your budget. Think about it.