Immigration Penalties to Increase March 27, 2008

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have announced an increase in the penalties for immigration violations.

First-time violations by an employer of the employment eligibility requirements will result in a minimum fine of $375 and a maximum fine of $3,200 for the violation.

A second violation raises the minimums and maximums to $3,200 and $6,500, and further violations raise the minimum and maximum to $4,200 and $16,000.

The new regulation is a mandatory inflation increase required by law, but DHS has already indicated that it will be imposing more than minimum fines in the future.  The new fine levels are effective on March 27, 2008.