Illegal Immigrant Labor Bulletin

Illegal Immigrant Labor Bulletin

Attention general contractors, owner builders, home owners, sub-contractors and building material suppliers:

The country’s legal system is cracking down on illegal immigrant laborers, now

numbering approximately 11 million. A major portion of this labor force is found in the construction industry. Congress is discussing this problem and it is anticipated that legislation will be passed to toughen the laws to deal decisively with this problem.All employers and home owners should be aware of the immigration laws. There are legal repercussions to utilizing illegal immigrant labor on construction sites, from the Federal and State courts, Internal Revenue Service, North Carolina Revenue Service, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.Federal Immigration and Nationality Act Section 8 USC 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv)(b)(iii) states:It is unlawful to hire an alien, knowing the alien is unauthorized to work in the United States. It is unlawful to hire an individual for employment in the United States without complying with employment eligibility verification requirements. Requirements include examination of identity documents and completion of Form I-9 for every employee hired. It is a violation of law for any person to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection in any place, including any building or means of transportation, any alien who is in the United States in violation of the law. Penalties upon conviction include criminal fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of vehicles and real property used to commit the crime.Given the attention that illegal immigration is receiving nationwide, the Transylvania County Board of Commissioners want to make sure that its citizens are aware of the consequences of knowingly hiring an illegal immigrant, or hiring sub-contractors who use illegal immigrant labor. To report suspicious activity, call the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement toll free at 1-866-347-2433 or visit their website at www.ice.gov.