More than 1,000 U.S. companies were formally notified in late February that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be auditing them to ensure they are not employing undocumented workers.
The number of audits of the I-9 forms filled out by employees has doubled during the past two years under the Obama administration, ICE said, noting that targeted firms have included Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and Abercrombie and Fitch Clothiers.
The forthcoming round of audits will include employers in every industry and across all 50 states.
In 2006, ICE initiated the Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, or IMAGE, program to encourage companies to voluntarily cooperate with efforts to prevent hiring of undocumented workers.
Firms taking part in the program submit to I-9 audits and receive guidance from the government in verifying the legal status of prospective employees. So far, however, only 115 companies have signed up for the IMAGE program.
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