Labor Union Blog

There is a new focus at the Department of Homeland Security toward employers who hire undocumented workers. Jesse Russell reports:

On Thursday the Department of Homeland Security sent down new guidelines for Immigration and Customs Enforcement that will help the organization target employers who employ undocumented workers. The Department acknowledged that workers would still be detained when the ICE raids workplaces, but such round ups will be used to for developing cases against the employers. The Department additionally intends to focus less on simply using tips that employers are using undocumented workers, but will now increase dependency on undercover operations and analyzing employment records. In 2008 135 employers or managers were arrested during ICE raids. According to the New York Times the new regulations stem from a raid in February where the ICE raided an employer, arrested 28 undocumented workers, but failed to seize the employer’s records. The new Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano ordered the ICE to return to the company and take into custody the employment files.