
Staffmark specialist Diana Havenar taps into a federal database to determine whether a Social Security number is valid. Looking on are Stephanie Pickert and Faith Kuchynka.
Steve Gooch, The Oklahoman
IMAGE
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement launched a voluntary program in July to help employers be sure the people they hire are legal workers. It is called IMAGE, which stands for ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers. Here are some highlights:
ICE:
• Trains participating companies in hiring procedures, fraudulent document detection and anti-discrimination procedures.
Employers:
• Agree to an ICE audit of the employment authorization forms (form I-9) for their employees.
• Use the Department of Homeland Security's Basic Pilot Employment Verification Program to see whether new hires are eligible to work in the United States.
• Establish internal training.
• Arrange annual, independent I-9 audits.
• Establish self-reporting procedure for violations or deficiencies.
• Submit annual report.
Source: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
What is an I-9 form?
Employers are required to maintain an employment eligibility verification form, or Form I-9, on every employee.
• Section One. On the first day of employment, employees fill out this section, attesting to identity and employment eligibility.
• Section Two. Within three days of hire, employers complete this section by examining original documents of identity (a driver's license, for example) and employment authorization (a Social Security card, for example), recording document numbers and certifying that the documents appeared to be genuine and relate to the employee.
Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
In this three-part series, The Oklahoman looks at efforts to deny immigrants jobs, considers the booming market in counterfeit documents, and describes some proposed solutions.