General Workplace Enforcement
The POWER Act: Protect Our Workers from Exploitation and Retaliation Act
By mandating changes in how the Dept. of Homeland Security conducts worksite immigration enforcement and by creating new protections for workers, POWER would help ensure that enforcement of federal immigration law does not undermine workers’ basic job-related rights. The legislation marks a vital step forward and will help create safe and just workplaces for all workers.
Immigration and Labor Enforcement in the Workplace: The Revised DOL-DHS Memorandum of Understanding (2011, PDF)
A Q&A piece by NILC and the National Employment Law Project (NELP) about the recent U.S. Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Homeland Security agreement to coordinate worksite enforcement activities. (4/19/11)
• Revised Memorandum of Understanding between the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor Concerning Enforcement Activities at Worksites (3/31/11, PDF)
Written Statement of Emily Tulli, Worker Rights Policy Attorney, National Immigration Law Center, to the House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, Hearing on ICE Worksite Enforcement: Up to the Job?, January 26, 2011, PDF.
Immigration enforcement at the worksite should create higher wages and better conditions for workers. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should target the worst employers with the most egregious labor records and use its enforcement muscle against labor lawbreakers and other abusive employers. Unless the existing unauthorized workforce is provided a path to legalization, an enforcement-only scheme is bound to fail and, in fact, will be counterproductive, because it will not address the economic incentive that employers have to hire undocumented workers by any means possible.
NEWS RELEASE | DHS Issues “New” Worksite Enforcement Guidelines That Are Simply More of the Same (Bilingual: English & Spanish, 4/30/09)
Protections for Detained Salvadorans after a Worksite Raid
Attorneys and legal workers representing persons detained in worksite raids should be aware of two provisions of a permanent injunction that apply nationwide to nationals of El Salvador detained by immigration authorities. (4/08)
Immigration Enforcement During Labor Dispute: Sample Letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(Word for Windows file, posted 2/14/08)
Administration Announces Harsh New Immigration Measures
“Improving Border Security and Immigration Within Existing Law” (Depts. of Homeland Security & Commerce, 8/10/07)
Facts about the IMAGE Program: ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (1/07)
Issue Brief: Immigration Enforcement During Labor Disputes (updated 11/09, PDF)
In the Matter of Herrera-Priego, USDOJ EOIR (Lamb, I.J., July 10, 2003, PDF).