September 25, 2003

DHS Conducting Random Onsite "Checks" of Business Petitions

GT has learned that the Bureaus of Citizenship and Immigration services (CIS) and the Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) of the Department of Homeland Security have joined efforts in a random investigation of petitioners and beneficiaries of business-based and other immigration petitions. The investigation, which has not been officially announced or acknowledged, focuses on petitions filed with CIS -- confirming the facts of those petitions, ensuring the worker is indeed performing the job cited, signatures of the petitioner and beneficiary, etc. Anecdotal evidence suggests that ICE is looking specifically for misrepresentations, asking questions related to the job duties and responsibilities, jobsite location, etc. Several companies (large and small) have already been visited. Employees are visited at the home addresses listed with CIS, some in the early morning hours. The extent of the investigation is not known, but several investigators have stated that thousands of files and employees are involved.

GT will provide more details as they become available. If you have been visited and want to share details of your experience, please email us at mcgoverne@gtlaw.com.