Employers have to be careful when hiring lawful permanent residents for work. Compliance with i-9 reporting requirements can be confusing, but proper documentation is critical to avoid fines, penalties and audits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. However, asking too much from employees can also cost you.

A Taco Bell franchise owner has recently agreed to a $225,000 settlement after allegedly discriminating against lawful permanent residents during the process of verifying their work authorization documents. The settlement amount is comprised of a $175,000 penalty payment to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and $50,000 to be reserved for back pay to eligible individuals affected by the discrimination as well to go toward proper posting, training, monitoring and reporting requirements.

The employer allegedly required lawful permanent residents to provide specific work authorization documents and did not require a comparable amount of documents from U.S. citizens. As a result, the DOJ found that the franchise owner violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against lawful permanent residents in the U.S. due to their citizenship status. The DOJ reported that some lawful permanent residents missed out on work opportunities “even though they had presented sufficient documentation to prove their authorization to work.”

Employers can not request more or different documents, based on employees’ citizenship status or national origin, than those necessary to prove work authorization. As part of the completion of the i-9 form, applicants must provide three separate, non-expired documents that prove their eligibility to work. A variety of documents from three lists are acceptable, but the prospective employee must provide:

  • One document that establishes both identity and employment eligibility (from List A on the I-9)
  • One document that establishes identity (from List B) 
  • A third document that establishes employment eligibility (from List C)

In addition to completing form i-9, some federally-contracted employers must use the information from the form to create a case in the E-Verify system, which is an online system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9 to data from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the State Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records to confirm employment eligibility. This can create additional challenges for employers, who have to be very careful when submitting information and in how the approach an employee whose eligibility could not be immediately confirmed. 

Employers can not directly ask employees for additional documentation or accuse them of anything. Doing so will likely result in a discrimination case, followed by fines and penalties. When navigating something as complicated as employment eligibility, it can be helpful to have an expert on your side. Partnering with a PEO that offers regulatory compliance as part of their services means you can stop the guessing games and worrying about possible penalties and leave the employment verification to a professional while you focus on your day-to-day business needs.

About Emplicity:
Since 1995, Emplicity has provided a smarter, more secure, and integrated platform of employer services to its 300 business clients and their 8,500 employees. As a Professional Employer Organization, or PEO, the California-based HR outsourcing firm simplifies the compliance, administration, and support businesses need in the areas of employee benefits, payroll, and human resources technology.

For more information about us, visit www.emplicity.com or call us at (877) 476-2339. We’d love to make your employee management more simple—and secure.

NOTICE: Emplicity provides HR advice and recommendations. Information provided by Emplicity is not intended as a substitute for employment law counsel. At no time will Emplicity have the authority or right to make decisions on behalf of its clients.

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