Last month, the New York City Commission on Human Rights (“NYCCHR”) adopted enforcement guidance on its prohibition of discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived “alienage and citizenship status” and “national origin.” The NYCCHR highlighted the following demographics of our city’s melting pot:

• Approximately 3.2 million residents (37% of the city’s population) were born outside of the country
• More than 50% of children in the city have a foreign-born parent
• Approximately 60% of residents in the city live with at least one immigrant in the household
• With hundreds of languages spoken throughout the five boroughs, New York is one of the most linguistically diverse cities in the world

Early this year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) resumed the mailing of “No-Match” letters to employers that submit, through a Form W-2, at least one name and Social Security Number that fail to match SSA records. » Read More

An information technology (IT) consulting company that develops database and web-based applications, content management, and blockchain technology was fined $48,193 by the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage & Hour Division to settle allegations of H-1B Visa Program violations. » Read More

U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has informed all employers to continue using the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, released on July 17, 2017, notwithstanding the August 31, 2019, expiration date listed on that form. » Read More

In the wake of the new minimum wage law passed earlier this month, eight immigrant workers have filed a lawsuit against Caribbean Car Wash Inc. in Elizabeth, New Jersey (CCW), alleging CCW paid them less than $5 per hour for many years and denied them overtime because of their immigration status, or lack thereof.  » Read More

In a massive worksite immigration operation early Wednesday, over 600 federal immigration agents converged on seven Mississippi food manufacturing and processing facilities to serve search warrants as part of an ongoing worksite criminal investigation.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), federal agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized dozens of boxes of business records and arrested 680 individuals who were working unlawfully for the seven companies. » Read More

Apparently, in response to New Jersey’s sanctuary state policies, the Department of Homeland Security (the Department) has increased the number of worksite investigations and inspections. While the Department has not released inspection numbers since December of 2018, reports from those participating in immigration compliance, human resource departments, and other industry leaders indicate that New Jersey could see a nearly 1000% increase in the number of Notices of Form I-9 inspections from the 750% increase in the  2018 fiscal year. » Read More

Yesterday Ray Lahoud, Chair of our Immigration Law Group, spoke on Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification at our in-house lunch and learn, “Are You I-9 Compliant?”

Ray spoke to a crowd of HR Professionals, business owners, management, and administrators from several organizations and companies. » Read More

Following the Trump Administration’s recognition of Juan Guaidó as the rightful leader of Venezuela, the State Department issued an urgent travel advisory to all Americans who are in Venezuela or plan to travel to Venezuela, warning that the “U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. » Read More

Norris McLaughlin’s Immigration Group notes the impact of the partial government shutdown on the U.S. Immigration System as follows:

Form I-9 and E-Verify

E-Verify expired as a result of the government shutdown.  Employers will not have access to E-Verify to initiate new employee verifications, resolve non-confirmations, and verify employment authorization.  » Read More