How to Report Employers Who Hire Illegal Immigrants

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There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, and it is illegal for companies to employ them. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will prosecute any employer found to have employed undocumented immigrants. To report such an employer, call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or fill out the ICE online tip form and provide as much information about the company as you can. You may report anonymously if you prefer.

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Preparing to Report

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    Employing undocumented workers is a serious offense. Employers are required to confirm the work authorization of every person they hire. [1] If an employer hires an undocumented immigrant, then it may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.
    • The minimum penalty for a first-time offense is $375 per worker. However, if the company or individual engages in a “pattern or practice” of hiring unlawful workers, then the penalties increase up to $3,000 for each unlawful worker. The employer may also face six months in jail. [2]
    • You can report both companies and individuals to ICE. If an individual is hiring undocumented immigrants, then that person is violating the law as well.
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    You should gather as much evidence as possible about the violation before reaching out to ICE to report the violation. You should try to get the following: [3]
    • The name of the company
    • The company’s location
    • The nationalities of the undocumented employees
    • Employee Social Security Numbers
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    Although you should write down everything that you know about the violation, you should not break the law in order to gather evidence. For example, you don’t have the right to snoop through the company mail, hack into someone’s computer system, or steal information.
    • Leave the investigation to ICE. All you need to do is gather as much information as possible and report the potential violation to the federal government.
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    You have the ability to withhold your name when you report the violation. [4] You might want to report anonymously if you also work for the company or individual. Also, you may want to report anonymously if you are a competitor and fear retribution from the company.
    • Alternately, you might want to give ICE your name so that you can be available as a witness should the agency prosecute the employer for hiring illegal immigrants.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Reporting the Employment of Undocumented Workers

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    You can call 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) to report an employer who hires undocumented immigrants. [5] If you are hard of hearing, then you should call 1-802-872-6196. [6]
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    If you don’t want to call, you may use the online tip form, available at http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form . You should only file an online report if you have not reported by phone. There is no reason to report twice. [7]
    • On the online form, check “Employment/Exploitation of Unlawful Workers” under the Suspected Violation. Then type in the location of the violation.
    • You also are provided 2500 characters to provide a summary of the violation.
    • You must also answer a basic math question at the bottom of the form (e.g., “13 plus 6”) so that the agency can tell that you are a human visitor and not a bot.
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    ICE will not provide status updates on its investigations. However, the agency has the ability to pay monetary rewards for information. You are not guaranteed payment, but ICE has the discretion to offer a reward. [8]
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      References

      1. ↑ http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/legal-pitfalls-hiring-undocumented-immigrants.html
      2. ↑ http://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/penalties
      3. ↑ http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form
      4. ↑ http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form
      5. ↑ https://www.oig.dhs.gov/index.php?option=com_content&id=141&Itemid=133
      6. ↑ http://www.ice.gov/contact
      7. ↑ http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form
      8. ↑ http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      Before you report employers for hiring undocumented immigrants, make sure that you have thought through the repercussions of this decision and that you have valid reasons to suspect the workers are here illegally. Once you've made your decision, collect evidence, like the employer's name and address. Then, call ICE at 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or go to their website to fill out a form at http://www.ice.gov/webform/hsi-tip-form . For more from our reviewer on the process of making the ICE report, keep reading!

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