Hiring illegals

Last month, 1,200 illegal immigrants working as janitors in Minnesota were fired after a government-prompted review of their paperwork raised questions about their status.

In September, American Apparel, a Los Angeles clothing maker fired about 1,800 immigrant workers — more than a quarter of its work force — after a government audit found problems with documentation meant to verify their legal status.

They are just two of the businesses that have become the new face of enforcement as the Department of Homeland Security changes tack against illegal immigration.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is shifting away from the visible raids conducted earlier by ICE that pulled workers from plants, separated families, overwhelmed the legal system and disrupted businesses. Instead, they are putting more of the onus on employers.

Homeland Security is conducting more audits of businesses to review the employee eligibility verification forms that have to be filed for new employees. The department last week notified 1,000 businesses that their paperwork will be reviewed to determine whether they have hired illegal immigrants. Those that do can be fined.

ICE is seeking nearly $16 million from companies identified in a previous round of audits.

The Obama administration has shifted enforcement tactics away from work-site raids with fines against companies. Illegal workers are laid off, but they do not face criminal charges or deportation.

In order to encourage voluntary employer compliance, Homeland Security is promoting a "seal of approval" for companies that participate in the government's E-Verify program. It allows employers to check prospective employees against a government database to confirm their legal status. Employers have complained about problems with the system.

Participating businesses, though, will now get signs declaring "I E-Verify" to put in their windows or use in ads to show their participation. It is also a subtle way of telling the public that no illegal immigrants are employed by the business and puts a different face on immigration enforcement.