Federal immigration officials arrested approximately 680 undocumented workers Aug. 7 at several food-processing plants in Mississippi, as the Trump administration cracks down on workplaces that hire employees without proper work authorization.
We've rounded up articles and resources from SHRM Online and other outlets on the news.
Largest Worksite Raid in Over 10 Years
More than 600 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved in the raids at seven plants near Jackson. Previously, the largest worksite immigration raid was the 2008 action taken by the George W. Bush administration, when more than 400 unauthorized workers were arrested in a meatpacking facility in Iowa.
(NPR)
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Immigration Worksite Enforcement Surged in 2018
Worksite investigations, Form I-9 audits and employee arrests spiked in fiscal year (FY) 2018 compared to the previous year, according to ICE data.
Worksite investigations rose by more than 300 percent, and the agency set 10-year highs for the number of I-9 audits conducted and criminal charges filed.
Mandatory E-Verify
The Trump administration has also urged employers nationwide to use the federal E-Verify electronic employment eligibility verification system to better deter unauthorized workers from finding jobs in the United States. Senate Republicans introduced legislation this year that would permanently authorize the system, first established in 1996 as a pilot program and reauthorized several times since then. Mississippi is one of the few states that currently requires all employers to screen new hires through E-Verify.
How to Prepare for Workplace Raids
Employers can avoid big fines by developing a comprehensive I-9 compliance program, which should include training, self-audits and an investigation-day action plan.
All Employers Are Responsible for I-9 Compliance
This e-learning course is a comprehensive overview of employment eligibility laws and regulations, Form I-9 requirements and the E-Verify system, including how to handle typical case results. It includes real-life scenarios and activities, which will prepare users to effectively manage the employment verification process.
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