If you’re an employer who is in the habit of looking the other way when a job applicant can’t prove they are in the country legally, there’s a good chance that you received an unexpected visit from ICE over the past few months. In a recent press release from the agency, we learned that the second phase of a nationwide operation cracking down on employers of illegal aliens just concluded. ICE examined the records of more than 5,000 employers and wound up making a number of arrests. (ICE.gov)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced Tuesday the results of a two-phase nationwide operation in which I-9 audit notices were served to more than 5,200 businesses around the country since January. A notice of inspection (NOI) informs business owners that ICE is going to audit their hiring records to determine whether they are complying with existing law.

From July 16 to 20, the second phase of the operation, HSI served 2,738 NOIs and made 32 arrests. During the first phase of the operation, Jan. 29 to March 30, HSI served 2,540 NOIs and made 61 arrests…

While the agency routinely conducts worksite investigations to uphold federal law, HSI is currently carrying out its commitment to increase the number of I-9 audits in an effort to create a culture of compliance among employers, according to Benner.

HSI goes one to remind everyone that these are not “victimless crimes.” Illegal aliens who are allowed to work under such arrangements frequently do so using stolen identification, leading to a variety of headaches and financial loss to the identity theft victim. While some of the worst offenders among these employers are being prosecuted, the main goal of the department is to create a “culture of compliance” among employers across the country.

This is welcome news indeed and a subject which we’ve covered here extensively. It’s true that we need to continue to work to identify, locate and deport illegal aliens, but as long as they keep coming into the country at the same rate we’re really not gaining any ground. You need to shut down the magnet which attracts so many illegal aliens and that’s the possibility of obtaining American jobs. If that market dries up, the flow of illegals will do the same rapidly.

One other item of note from the ICE announcement is that they have succeeded in obtaining a preliminary injunction against portions of California’s AB450 bill which sought to impose fines on private employers for cooperating with ICE on investigations of illegal alien workers. It was a laughable bill to begin with because it had nothing to do with state or local law enforcement cooperating with ICE. It was restricting voluntary cooperation by private employers. Now, with the injunction in place, ICE is receiving improved cooperation from California employers in this regard.

Keep up the good work, ladies and gentlemen. This is how we’re going to see actual progress in the future.