U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conducted a presentation on the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program and Form I-9 compliance Tuesday, at the Front Porch in Vardaman.
Special Agent Steve Cole talked about how farms and businiesses can upgrade their personnel management practices.
Steve Cole
The IMAGE program was created in 2006 as a partnership between ICE and the business community. IMAGE gives businesses protection from I-9 audits and provides training and assistance on the completen of the Form I-9s. The IMAGE program also gives businesses direct access to an HSI special agent who is trained in worksite enforcement to answer employment related questions and to help address any potential Form I-9 related issues.
Businesses that do not use E-Verify as required by Mississippi law face significant fines and criminal charges if found to be in violation of the law.
For more information on the IMAGE program www.ice.gov/IMAGE. To find out more about E-Verify visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.