Comprehensive Guide Outlines Best Practices for Business Owners in Event of Immigration Action

NEW YORK – The National Employment Law Project, in partnership with the National Immigration Law Center, have published a guide for employers on how they can best protect their businesses and employees in case of an immigration raid or I-9 audit.

NELP and NILC are also launching a program to disseminate the new guide from coast to coast, debuting the best-practices presentation at a “town hall” event for immigrant business owners Tuesday evening in Queens, New York, that was organized by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.

The Trump administration’s attack on immigrants is already having far-reaching consequences for employers and immigrant workers, alike. Employers in New York City, such as Tom Cat Bakery in Queens, have faced I-9 audits in the past, and the administration’s crackdown on immigrants is sowing fear in immigrant neighborhoods and causing business owners to worry if they can keep their doors open from one day to the next.

The guide (available in five languages at www.planforICE.com) is an introduction to the most common types of federal immigration enforcement actions that affect employers and their teams. It outlines steps that employers can take to prepare for federal immigration enforcement, employers’ rights and responsibilities in those situations, and what employers can do after they’ve been targeted by immigration authorities.

The guide explains, for example, that employers do not always have to allow immigration authorities to enter their business and shows employers what types of warrants are generally necessary for immigration agents to enter a private area. It also encourages employers to train their staff to be ready for an immigration raid or I-9 audit and provides guidance on steps employers can take to support their communities after an immigration enforcement action.

“The Trump administration has made it clear that immigration enforcement is a priority, and increased enforcement will no doubt affect the workplace. We know from past experience that immigration enforcement in the workplace can terrorize businesses and entire communities. Employers want to be prepared to protect their rights and do what’s best for their teams, and this guide offers a starting point for doing that,” Christine Owens, executive director of the National Employment Law Project explained.

“New York has a long proud history of both welcoming immigrants and supporting local businesses. As Trump expands and expedites immigration enforcement across the country, it’s essential that small business owners and employees know their rights and protect themselves. We are providing them with the tools to help protect their livelihoods and their communities against the administration’s reckless and hate-driven attack on immigrants,” said Jessie Hahn, labor and employment policy attorney for the National Immigration Law Center.

The guide is available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and English at www.planforICE.com.

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The National Employment Law Project is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts research and advocates on issues affecting low-wage and unemployed workers. For more about NELP, visit www.nelp.org.

Established in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is one of the leading organizations in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights of immigrants with low income.  For more about NILC, visit https://www.nilc.org/.