For employers who need more proof that the government is cracking down on companies that hire illegal aliens, a recent announcement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that a doughnut company based in Houston, Texas forfeited over $1.3 million to ICE for harboring illegal aliens should provide ample warning for companies not compliant with current Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 Form) regulations.

According to a press release from ICE, Shipley Do-Nut Flour and Supply Company Inc. was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $250,000 and forfeit $1.334 million to the government after the company – through its president – pleaded guilty to conspiring to harbor illegal aliens in September 2008.

ICE Assistant Secretary John Morton stated in the press release that an effective immigration enforcement strategy must target the illegal alien labor market. "ICE will hold employers and businesses accountable and will hit those who knowingly break the law where it hurts – their bottom line."

The doughnut company's president, two warehouse managers, and a warehouse supervisor – who all had authority to make managerial decisions for the company – also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of hiring or continuing to hire illegal aliens, and all four men were sentenced to six months probation and received fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,000, the press release reports.

In April 2008, after a thorough review and analysis of the company's I-9 forms – which require an employer to establish an employee's identity and verify their employment eligibility at the time they are hired – ICE agents arrested 27 illegal aliens employed by the company, and also recovered 42 No-Match letters sent by the Social Security Administration (SSA) which placed the company on notice that the illegal aliens did not have valid Social Security numbers.

U.S. employers who want to avoid fines and penalties like the ones placed on the doughnut company for hiring illegal aliens should implement a program that ensures I-9 form compliance.  E-Verify – a Web-based system that allows employers to check employment information submitted by workers against government databases – can help employers reduce errors, avoid hiring illegal aliens and the ensuing government audits, and maintain Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 form) compliance.

A designated E-Verify service agent, I-9Compliance.com – offered by leading pre-employment screening and Human Resources Outsourcing (HRO) provider Pre-Employ.com – helps employers maintain full compliance, reduce risks and liability from hiring illegal aliens, virtually eliminate errors, and ensure jobs for legal workers.

For more information, download a FREE white paper "15 Facts You Should Know About I-9 Compliance," visit www.i-9compliance.com, email sales@i-9compliance.com, or call 1-800-300-1821. To follow Pre-Employ.com on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/PreEmploy.

tahearn@pre-employ.com

*We welcome relevant comments and questions from consumers, experts, and human resources professionals. Please do not submit comments with advertisements as they will not be posted publicly. Thanks for visiting our blog!