Description 

President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans for what he calls the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, expected to begin shortly after he takes office. This could have major consequences for U.S. businesses, especially in industries that rely on a largely unskilled workforce, such as manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, construction, and hospitality. Employers should prepare now for increased workplace immigration enforcement, which may lead to sudden worker shortages, legal challenges, and financial penalties.

Many employers with a large nonprofessional workforce may unknowingly have unauthorized workers. Some employees may have entered the country without documentation, while others may have overstayed their visas. Since 1986, employers must verify new hires' identity and work authorization using Form I-9, but fake documents are common. More businesses are using the government’s electronic E-Verify system, which checks employment eligibility against government records. However, advanced counterfeit documents tied to stolen identities can still pass verification.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can inspect workplaces with little notice. Within three days of receiving a notice of inspection or subpoena, employers must provide:

• Employee records with hire and termination dates
• Payroll and tax records
• Company ownership details
• Staffing vendor agreements
• All Form I-9 documents
• Copies of employee identity and authorization documents

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expanding its teams to review these documents, making compliance more important than ever.

Why You Should Attend

I-9 Audits: The ‘Silent Raid’

ICE audits can lead to:

• Penalties for incomplete or missing I-9 forms
• Fines for knowingly hiring unauthorized workers
• Fines from $300 to $30,000 per worker
• Loss of eligibility for federal contracts

Employers have just 10 days to correct errors, but ICE often classifies many mistakes as “substantive” and not fixable. Even minor errors in electronic I-9 storage can result in fines.

Even fully compliant employers risk losing workers due to enforcement actions.

Key Topics Covered:

• How to properly verify, store, and manage I-9 forms
• Differences between Silent Raids and Forced Raids
• How to conduct internal I-9 audits to fix errors
• Benefits of enrolling in E-Verify to reduce ICE penalties
• Identifying patterns in hiring that could signal compliance issues
• How internal audits can help avoid ICE investigations
• Creating an immigration compliance plan for your business
• Steps to protect sensitive locations like hospitals, places of worship, and schools from ICE raids

Who Should Attend:

• All Employers
• Business Owners
• Company Leadership
• HR Professionals
• Compliance Professionals
• Managers/Supervisors
• Employers in all industries
• Small Business Owners