Companies Face Federal Fines For Allegedly Employing Illegal Immigrants

BOSTON — Eight Massachusetts companies face stiff federal fines for allegedly employing immigrants who may not have permission to work in the United States.

After President Obama was elected, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, changed its strategy for finding immigrants working illegally.

Instead of raiding workplaces, ICE audited Form I-9 documents  for companies suspected of violating immigration law.

“People know and businesses know that we’re out there,” said Bruce Foucart, the special agent in charge of Boston’s ICE office. “They’re trying to get their records in order in case we do come knocking on the door.”

The penalties include a $100,000 fine for a commercial cleaning service in Allston.

Foucart explained that there is room for reviewing a suspected illegal immigrants case in the event that an error is found:

“When we find a suspect’s documents and we inform a company that they’re probably in the country illegally, and they need to let go, they do have an opportunity to come back and prove the fact they’re here legally,” he said. “That  often times that doesn’t happen.”