Employers beware.
Penalties for knowingly hiring undocumented immigrants will increase, in some cases drastically, starting March 27, 2008.
The first increases in civil fines for employers since 1999 come amid other changes in federal immigration policy, including a tightening of border security and an increase in workplace raids, according to a recent joint statement by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
Under the new rules, the minimum penalty for knowingly employing an undocumented immigrant increases from $275 to $375; the maximum penalty for first violation increases from $2,200 to $3,300.
The maximum civil penalty for multiple offenses jumps from $11,000 to $16,000.
All figures represent penalties per immigrant.
Employers will have the right to a hearing with the Executive Office of Immigration Review for each violation.
“Congress didn’t give us immigration reform, so we are going to do what we can wit the tools we have, and frankly we have made progress in doing quite a bit,” Secretary Chertoff said, according to a report by Mondaq Business Briefing.
The Department of Homeland Security said it has also increased to 53,000 the number of businesses using an electronic verification system that allows employers to verify work eligibility of potential employees.
Secretary Chertoff and Attorney General Mukasey also announced concentrated efforts to remove criminal immigrants from the country and a streamlining of the current guest worker programs.
Additionally, changes were announced to the Southwest Border Enforcement Initiative, including a $100 million request in new funding that will allow U.S. federal officials to better combat illegal immigration and weapons and drug trafficking.
