GEARING UP FOR ICE
SF businesses, employees urged to expect immigrant audits
SANTA FE — In response to what was described as a “new wave” of immigration law enforcement in Santa Fe, community organizers and city officials are urging businesses and employees to know their rights before they’re visited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Businesses are required to fill out I-9 employee eligibility verification forms, confirming that their employees are authorized to work in the United States. The forms are required for all new employees and the records are to be kept on file for three years after the hire or one year after the worker’s last day, whichever is later.
Marcela Díaz, executive director of Somos un Pueblo Unido, an immigrant and workers’ rights advocacy group, said at a news conference Monday that in the last two weeks I-9 audits have been “wreaking havoc” in the local business community. Based on reports from Somos’ network and immigration attorneys, Díaz said at least six local small businesses have been targeted and several individuals have been detained by ICE officials in recent weeks.
Somos is asking businesses to only provide ICE agents with the minimum amount of information required for their workers and not to give out addresses or phone numbers, notify employees immediately if they are audited by ICE, and to let their workers know what they should do and where they can go to get assistance if contacted by immigration
authorities.
An ICE spokesman, asked for comment, provided a statement that said, “ICE routinely conducts worksite investigations in order to uphold federal law. ICE’s worksite enforcement strategy continues to address both employers who knowingly hire unauthorized workers and the workers themselves.
“ICE Deputy Director Tom Homan previously stated that he has directed ICE Homeland Security Investigations to step up worksite enforcement — to include pursuing more investigations and conducting more I-9 audits.”
Díaz and others who spoke at the City Hall news conference said the recent ICE activity has caused fear among immigrant families in Santa Fe.
Mayor Javier Gonzales, a supporter of Santa Fe’s “sanctuary’ policies who is beginning his last week as mayor, said ICE activity also is bad for business in Santa Fe. “We also know how important it is in our economy that thrives on tourism and on film, that we rely on a set of skilled workers — people to come in everyday and perform critical job functions so we can be competitive on a global scale,” he said.
The mayor said that welcoming people to become part of the Santa Fe community “has been a part of our DNA for more than 400 years.”