ICE Storm Hitting Employers Form I-9 Compliance
The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is making good on its promise to audit employers’ Forms I-9. Employers are discovering it isn’t enough to have a Form I-9 on file; the form must be completed accurately with every “i” dotted and every “t” crossed to avoid significant fines for technical/procedural failures.
What employers view as simple insignificant omissions and errors on the Form I-9 end up being very significant in the eyes of an ICE forensic auditor. Each of these “clerical errors” will cost an employer major fines – often totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Most of the employers we work with are in a state of denial about the importance of I-9 compliance, the Form I-9 and the serious nature of an ICE inspection.
Who Qualifies As An I-9 Compliance Expert?
Another area of significant frustration for employers is the abundance of misinformation and bad advice relating to the requirements of the law as it relates to I-9 compliance. We have worked with many employers who have HR specialists, CPAs and business attorneys who have advised them incorrectly on the requirements of the Form I-9 and the law concerning verifying the work eligibility of their employees. The message here is to be careful who you ask about the Form I-9, not everyone is an expert in the complex matters of I-9 compliance.
I-9 Okay is a team of dedicated experts that specialize in Form I-9 compliance and E-Verify. It’s all we do, all day, every day. We have reviewed thousands of Forms I-9, are experts in E-Verify, and are dedicated to helping employers achieve 100% I-9 compliance.