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Illegal Aliens: Significant Obstacles to Reducing Unauthorized Alien Employment Exist

GGD-99-33 Published: Apr 02, 1999. Publicly Released: Apr 02, 1999.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a legislative requirement, GAO reviewed the Attorney General's strategy for enforcing workplace immigration laws, focusing on: (1) the effectiveness of the employment verification process in preventing employers from hiring unauthorized aliens; (2) the Immigration and Naturalization Service's (INS) efforts to improve the employment verification process; (3) the level of effort INS and the Department of Labor (DOL) devoted to worksite enforcement activities and the results of these activities; and (4) changes being made to INS' worksite enforcement program.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Immigration and Naturalization Service The Commissioner of INS, as a part of the outreach program for INS' pilot programs, should seek assistance from federal and state agencies, such as DOL and Department of State labor agencies, in disseminating information to employers about the programs.
Closed – Implemented
In November 1999, INS distributed information pamphlets on its pilot programs to 25 Department of Labor Offices in 13 states that agreed to disseminate the pamphlets to employers with whom they have business.
Immigration and Naturalization Service The Commissioner of INS, in implementing the interior enforcement strategy, should clarify the criteria for opening investigations of employers suspected of criminal activities.
Closed – Implemented
On October 20, 1999, INS issued a Worksite Enforcement Policies memorandum and in July 2000 published a revised chapter of its Special Agents Field Manual clarifying the criteria for opening investigations of employers suspected of criminal activities.

Full Report

Full Report (52 pages)

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Topics

Justice and Law Enforcement
Foreign workersEligibility determinationsFraudImmigration enforcementImmigration and naturalization lawLabor lawLaw enforcementNoncitizensSanctionsEmployment verification