US: Immigration and Customs Enforcement Launches National I-9 Audit Initiative
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched a national Form I-9 Audit Initiative. It is expected that each Special Agent in Charge (SAC) will initiate multiple I-9 audits in each ICE jurisdiction today. The overall number of audits initiated in today’s first wave could exceed several hundred nationwide.
BAL Comment: The large-scale Form I-9 Audit Initiative launched today represents the first step by Secretary Napolitano to focus worksite enforcement efforts on employer compliance. We anticipate that the number of I-9 audits will increase in the coming months. BAL recommends that all employers who receive a notice of audit consult with counsel as quickly as possible. BAL also recommends that all employers take steps to review their compliance practices to date and to ensure that they maintain the strongest compliance profiles.
Source: Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP