Fines Increase for Businesses Found to Knowingly Hire Undocumented Workers

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Businesses that knowingly employ undocumented workers can expect to face stiffer fines as a 25 percent-increase in civil penalties is now in effect.

According to the U.S. Justice Department:

  1. The minimum penalty for the knowing employment of an unauthorized worker has increased by $100, from $275 to $375.
  2. Some of the higher civil penalties increased by $1,000; for example, the maximum penalty for a first violation increased from $2,200 to $3,200.
  3. The biggest increase raised the maximum civil penalty for multiple violations from the current $11,000 to $16,000.

 

These penalties are assessed on a per-person basis; for example, if an employer knowingly employed, or continued to employ, five unauthorized workers, it could result in five separate fines.

The penalty increase comes after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a series of new immigration reforms last August.  Among the reforms was the future plan to increase civil fines on businesses found to knowingly employ undocumented workers.