Clients often ask, "What's the risk of not complying
with immigration law?" In essence, what they're asking is
how much it will cost if they don't get it right. So, I thought
it might be helpful to look at some recent immigration-related
penalties to illustrate what's at stake.
The penalties will of course be fact-dependent, and, as you
know, the good faith of the employer can have an enormous impact,
but generally speaking, sentences for employers range from up to
six months in prison for knowingly hiring an illegal worker to 10
years for harboring one. Also, other charges and additional
penalties can be tacked on for crimes like tax evasion, money
laundering, bank fraud and false statements that stem from what
began as an immigration-related investigation. Immigration
violations also carry significant civil fines of up to $16,000 per
worker.
