The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is hardening its investigations and is issuing the I-9 form – an employment eligibility verification form – determined to catch companies that hire undocumented immigrants.
ICE has recently caught high-profile companies, including Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., American Apparel, and Pilgrim's Pride, employing illegal workers.
Now the ICE is turning its attention to clothing manufacturing companies in Manhattan's garment district, which is mostly populated by Korean immigrants.
On June 29, two ICE agents investigated an apparel manufacturing company owned by a Korean-American businessman. They asked the owner to show them his I-9 form, which provides them with a detailed working history of the employees of the store. The owner was ordered to fill out several documents such as employment payment stubs, social security numbers and other forms related to company employees. The deadline for the owner to hand in these documents was July 7th.
While scrounging up documents and trying to find loopholes for almost half of his employees who are undocumented and lack an official ID and social security number, the owner managed to postpone the due date to July 14th.
Since the revision of the I-9 form last April, all employers in the United States are required to use the revised form, which narrows the list of acceptable identity documents and require more specifications, including that expired documents are no longer viable forms of identification.
Since the ICE investigation in clothing manufacturing companies, many Korean businessmen from different fields of work have started preparing documentation for their employees in advance.
Woo Chun Kwak, president of Korean Apparel Manufacturers Association of Greater New York (KAMAG), said the association would actively encourage its members to prepare I-9 form for their employees.
"Employers must layoff undocumented foreign workers in order to avoid an ICE investigation. However, it's not realistic to try to run a company without their being there," he said. "It's very complicated issue and many employers feel bewildered."
Some KAMAG members made the extreme suggestion to close their businesses because an ICE investigation would lead to large penalties and intense documentation work.
Construction companies and nail salons are confronting the same issue, with almost 80 percent of their employees undocumented. Although ICE has not reached out to these industries, ICE investigations are imminent.
Jae Bok Choi, president of Korean Construction Association of Greater New York, said, "Temporary workers who work at the construction site don't have I-9 form, while office workers do. If ICE investigates the construction industry, we cannot survive the investigation unless we close the business."
The nail industry also cannot remain in business without hiring undocumented workers. The Nail Association also said it would advice its members to prepare the necessary legal documentation.
