First HR Firm to Partner with ICE IMAGE Program
SAN RAMON, Calif., September 15, 2008: Leading the human resources outsourcing industry to protect employers from civil and criminal employment penalties, HRI, is the first human resources firm to be certified under the Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) national IMAGE program. Participants in IMAGE — short for ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers — commit to meeting workforce compliance standards set by the program at its inception in January 2007. Just recently, civil fines for employers who hire undocumented workers were increased by 25% and now include up to 6 months in jail. Raids have also been stepped up significantly.
“In the last twelve months alone, ICE has made more than 1,000 criminal arrests tied to worksite enforcement investigations. Of those, 121 were owners, managers, supervisors or human resources employees accused of violations ranging from alien harboring to knowingly hiring illegal aliens,” said Deisy Bach, president of HR Ideas (HRI).
“Nearly all California businesses employ immigrants and compliance has become mission critical. Our goal is to keep clients from becoming an ICE statistic, and partnering with ICE on the IMAGE program helps us keep them viable and productive.”
As a certified IMAGE member, HRI will offer clients assistance in establishing IMAGE partnership and implementing the necessary compliance requirements within the two-year deadline. Companies participating in IMAGE attest to achieving more stability in their workforce and increased interest in their services because of their membership.
Bach joined representatives from 25 other employers nationwide at a signing ceremony Tuesday at IMAGE headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE, congratulated IMAGE’s newest members, saying, “Your ability to aspire to and meet the IMAGE standard is an example to all those in your industry of corporate leadership and good citizenship. It’s also a signal to your clients and business partners that you care about your brand and their reputation in partnering with you.”
About ICE and IMAGE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is responsible for enforcing the nation’s immigration and customs laws. One known vulnerability is the presence of undocumented workers who have secured jobs by fraudulent means, including presentation of false documents, completion of fraudulent benefit applications and theft of identities. To combat unlawful employment and reduce vulnerabilities that help illegal aliens gain such employment, the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program was initiated in 2007. The goal is to assist employers in targeted sectors to develop a more secure and stable workforce and to enhance fraudulent document awareness through education and training. For more information about ICE and the IMAGE program, visit www.ice.gov.
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