immigration and mobility

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Our attorneys examine how Venezuela and key neighboring jurisdictions—particularly Colombia—are reshaping immigration, employment, and workforce compliance frameworks in response to renewed business activity in the region. The panel explores evolving visa pathways, transnational teleworking models, and employer obligations under Colombian and Venezuelan law, highlighting how these developments are influencing mobility strategies, cross‑border staffing structures, and…

ICE, in a “fact sheet” available on its website, has made a significant change to the way it conducts I-9 audits. Specifically, ICE has broadened what it considers to be a “substantive” violation on an I-9. This change is likely to increase the financial penalties employers face during an audit, impacting all employers (including those who have already conducted an internal audit). This change to ICE’s protocol may signal increased enforcement in the coming weeks and months. 

Key Takeaways

In response to this change, employers should: 

  • Conduct an I-9 audit to determine potential penalties under the new guidelines and determine which, if any, substantive errors can be rehabilitated.
  • Conduct internal training to ensure the company has an established I-9 protocol and team to ensure the process is being completed accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Create a protocol for the handling of I-9 audits at the worksite should ICE issue a subpoena.

In more detail

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), enacted on November 6, 1986, requires employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees and sets forth criminal and civil sanctions for employment-related violations. During an I-9 audit, ICE reviews the accuracy and completeness of an employer’s I-9s to determine the volume of: (i) missing I-9s; (ii) technical violations; and (iii) substantive violations. ICE must permit employers to correct technical violations before issuing a fine; a substantive violation is cause for a fine without opportunity for rehabilitation. Fines range from $288 to $2,861 per I-9 violation.

Continue Reading Changes to I-9 Penalties Increase Employer Liability

We are pleased to share with you The Global Employer – Global Immigration & Mobility Quarterly Update, a collection of key updates from Colombia, Italy, Philippines, Singapore, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Vietnam.

Click here to view.

US immigration enforcement – both at the border and in communities across the country – has created widespread anxiety for employers and foreign-national employees due to the rapid changes in policies and their enforcement by US immigration authorities. The recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” significantly increases DHS’ budget for key immigration enforcement priorities…

We are pleased to share with you The Global Employer – Global Immigration & Mobility Quarterly Update, a collection of key updates from Czech Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Click here to view.

The immigration policies of the Philippines, Vietnam, and the US are evolving due to shifting political, economic, and social dynamics, creating unique challenges for employers. The Philippines has tightened its process for employing foreign nationals, introducing new rules which prioritize Filipino citizens and skill transfer from foreign employees. In Vietnam, recent government restructuring has caused…

The two largest global economies-the US and China-stand in stark contrast with their current immigration policies. The US is moving towards restrictive measures, potentially hindering employers’ efforts to recruit and relocate foreign talent. China has taken a more open approach, resulting in a significant increase in foreign national travelers and policies streamlining work authorization for…

Recent media coverage highlights incidents relating to enhanced vetting and potential travel bans of foreign nationals by State and Homeland Security officials at US Consulates and US ports of entry. Several countries have issued travel advisories for the United States. While the reported cases impact a limited number of individual travelers, the widespread news has…

Trump’s immigration Executive Orders address “enhanced vetting” of visa applicants, birthright citizenship and border security, among other things. Likely increasing ICE enforcement actions, including employer site visits and raids at workplaces, one of the EOs establishes a new “Homeland Security Task Force” enabling federal, state and local law cooperation in removing undocumented individuals.

As part…