Preparing for an ICE Inspection - How to perform an Internal I-9 audit

ICE I-9 inspections have increased sharply, penalties per form violation have roughly doubled, and the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is investigating more document abuse and citizenship discrimination cases. This 60-minute internal I-9 audit webinar shows employers how to prepare.

An immigration attorney and co-author of an I-9 and E-Verify handbook explains how to run regular self-audits, correct errors on existing forms and draft an effective immigration compliance policy, including the key terms it should contain.

You'll also walk through the anatomy of an ICE inspection: the Notice of Inspection or subpoena, reviewing forms with HR and counsel, producing documents, the notices ICE may issue and how to contest a Notice of Intent to Fine.

• Explain how increased ICE inspections and penalties affect employers
• Conduct an internal I-9 self-audit
• Correct errors on existing I-9 forms properly
• Draft an immigration compliance policy with the right key terms
• Respond to each stage of an ICE I-9 inspection
• Contest a Notice of Intent to Fine

1. Impact of increased ICE I-9 inspections and higher penalties

• The fivefold increase in ICE I-9 inspections
• Penalties for companies that committed I-9 violations, including a $95 million record penalty
• The doubling of I-9 penalties and an example of their impact

2. Internal I-9 audit

• Why internal self-audits matter
• How to conduct a self-audit
• How to correct errors on the I-9 form
• Why you need an immigration compliance policy and the key terms to include

3. Anatomy of an ICE I-9 inspection

• Delivery of the Notice of Inspection or subpoena
• HR and your immigration attorney review the I-9 forms
• Providing I-9 forms and other documents to ICE
• Notices ICE may issue after its analysis
• How to contest a Notice of Intent to Fine

Employers face heightened scrutiny on immigration compliance, and complacency leaves them exposed to penalties from ICE and the Justice Department's IER. Proactive internal audits and a written compliance policy reduce that risk.

The session suits HR managers, COOs, vice presidents, presidents and in-house counsel responsible for hiring compliance.

• HR Managers
• COOs
• Vice-Presidents
• Presidents
• In-House Counsell
   

Bruce E. Buchanan is a founding partner at Sebelist Buchanan Law PLLC with offices in Nashville and Atlanta, where he primarily represents employers in all aspects of immigration law, with a special emphasis on employer immigration compliance, as well as employment/labor law matters. Additionally, he is "Of Counsel" to Siskind Susser concerning employer immigration compliance matters.

Mr. Buchanan received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1982. He served as senior trial specialist for the National Labor Relations Board for 20 years. Mr. Buchanan also served for 12 years as Adjunct Professor at William H. Bowen UALR School of Law. He went into private practice in 2003 and formed his own law firm in late 2015.

Mr. Buchanan authors his own blog on employer immigration compliance for ilw.com, located at www.employerimmigration.com and is a monthly contributor to HR Professionals Magazine. He is also the editor of the Tennessee Bar Association's Immigration Law Section Newsletter and past-Chair of the TBA's Immigration Law Section. Mr. Buchanan is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas, and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and D.C. Circuits.