Employers should be aware that, effective March 27, 2008, they face increased monetary penalties for the violation of certain immigration-related laws. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Attorney General issued a rule that adjusts for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by these two departments under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This is the first increase in the civil monetary penalties since 1999 and results in an approximately 25% increase over the current penalties.

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