Visa Lawyer Blog
The government is not making it any easier for employers these days. Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey announced higher civil fines against employers who violate federal immigration laws. Under the new rule, which was approved by Attorney General Mukasey and Secretary Chertoff, civil fines will increase by as much as $5,000. The new rule will take effect on March 27, 2008, and will be published in the Federal Register early next week.
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, employers who violate employment eligibility requirements are subject to civil monetary penalties. Employers may be fined under the Act for knowingly employing unauthorized aliens or for other violations, including failure to comply with the requirements relating to employment eligibility verification forms, wrongful discrimination against job applicants or employees on the basis of nationality or citizenship, and immigration-related document fraud. For each of these violations, the employer has the right to a hearing before an administrative law judge in the Executive Office for Immigration Review.
I suggest that all employers concerned with this rule, review all internal hiring practices, update all I-9 forms and verify, and most importantly set up an immigration policy in the work place.
Read more on the new rule here