Labor and Employment Law Blog
March 11, 2010 / Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee Are Being Subjected to I-9 Inspections
On March 2, 2010, the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") agency announced that it is issuing notices of inspection to review the hiring records of 180 businesses in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Employers need to be aware that the agency is only required to give three days notice of the intent to inspect. Now is the time to audit your I-9s -- don't want for DHS to come calling.
In 2009, ICE implemented a new worksite enforcement strategy to focus on auditing and investigating employers suspected of cultivating illegal workplaces by knowingly employing illegal workers. The 180 notices of inspection are a result of the new strategy. The special agent in charge of the New Orleans ICE investigations unit said in a March 2, 2010 statement that ICE is committed to establishing a meaningful I-9 inspection program to promote compliance with the law.