The Justice Department has announced settlements of suits against employers in North Carolina and Oregon:

The Justice Department today announced that it has reached a settlement agreement with Collins Management Corporation, a forestry products company in Oregon, to resolve allegations that it unlawfully fired and later refused to rehire a lawful permanent resident in violation of the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

According to the department’s findings, Collins insisted that a lawful permanent resident present an unexpired permanent resident card (also known as a "green card") for Form I-9 purposes, even though the individual had already presented his driver’s license and unrestricted Social Security card to the employer. The department further found that the company fired the individual when he was unable to present an unexpired green card and refused to consider him for re-hire two months later because the company believed he did not possess proper documentation.

As part of the settlement agreement, Collins agreed to pay $15,000 in back pay to the former employee and a $600 civil penalty to the federal government. The company also agreed to train its managers and human resources representatives regarding compliance with the anti-discrimination provision of the INA.

In addition, earlier this month, the department entered into a settlement agreement with Oakwood Healthcare Inc. to settle allegations that its Ashville, N.C., facility unlawfully discriminated against a lawful permanent resident by rejecting her employment eligibility verification documents and rescinding an offer of employment. As part of the settlement, Oakwood agreed to compensate the individual for lost wages totaling $732, pay a $1,100 civil penalty and train its human resources employees regarding compliance with the anti-discrimination provision.

E-Verify Connection

Issue 1

Welcome to the E-Verify Connection, an e-newsletter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Each issue will bring you updates and information to help you get the most out of E-Verify.

You may also download a PDF version of this issue of the E-Verify Connection Newsletter.

What’s Hot in E-Verify

E-Verify Has Expanded Photo Matching!

E-Verify has launched a new U.S. Passport photo matching capability. Employers using E-Verify can now view photos to help confirm the validity of identity documents. Available documents include:

• U.S. Passports and Passport Cards
• Permanent Resident Cards (Green Cards)
• Employment Authorization Documents

Visit our website for more information about Photo Matching.

Did You Hear About the I E-Verify Seal?

Employers who use E-Verify can now prominently display the official I E-Verify™ seal at their workplace—on bulletin boards, doors or windows. E-Verify enrollees who would like a seal can send a request to uscis.verlogo@dhs.gov.

Designated Agents Get a New Name

The name “E-Verify Employer Agent” has replaced “Designated Agent” to refer to businesses that use E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of another company’s employees.

Puerto Rico Birth Certificate Guidance

On July 1, 2010, the Vital Statistics Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico began issuing new, more secure, certified copies of birth certificates to U.S. citizens born in Puerto Rico. After Oct. 30, 2010, all certified copies of birth certificates issued prior to July 1, 2010, became invalid. This new law does not affect the U.S. citizenship status of individuals born in Puerto Rico. It only affects the validity of certified copies of Puerto Rico birth certificates. See the USCIS Update for more information.

New on the E-Verify Website

Updated Manuals are now available

The latest E-Verify guidance can be easily downloaded or viewed online. E-Verify User Manuals, Quick Reference and Supplemental Guides for Employers, Federal Contractors, and E-Verify Employer Agents (formally Designated Agents) were all updated in September and are available on our Publications web page.

How Well is E-Verify Performing?

E-Verify recently updated the Statistics and Reports page on the web site. The updated statistics are based on E-Verify cases in Fiscal Year 2009 (October 2008 through September 2009).

History and Milestones

Check out the history of E-Verify—from the original legislation (1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act) to present-day major milestones. Visit the updated History and Milestones web page for more information.

E-Verify Outreach

E-Verify Offers Free Webinars!

It’s so easy! Just go to our website and click on Sign Up for a Webinar for a complete schedule. We offer the following free, live webinars:

• E-Verify Overview
• E-Verify for Existing Users
• E-Verify for Federal Contractors
• Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

E-Verify gives live presentations and workshops, and participates in conferences and exhibits. If you would like a speaker for an event or conference, please e-mail us at E-Verify@dhs.gov or call 1-888-464-4218.

E-Verify in the Community

• Small, Minority, Women and Veterans Business Owners
  San Antonio, Texas December 8, 2010
• 29th Annual Government Contract Management Conference
  Arlington, Virginia December 9-10, 2010
• The Agriculture Employer Forum
  Provo, Utah December 15, 2010
• The West Valley Chamber of Commerce
  Salt Lake City, Utah December 16, 2010
• Human Resource Council of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York
  Syracuse, New York December 21, 2010

Visit our website at http://www.dhs.gov/E-Verify

Follow us on Twitter! http://twitter.com/USCIS

E-Verify Employee Hotline: 1-888-897-7781

If you have received this message as a forward and would like to join our mailing list, please send a message with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to E-Verify@dhs.gov.

For general E-Verify queries, please write to E-Verify@dhs.gov.

City Pages in Minneapolis reports that the restaurant chain has fired 48 workers in the past week in response to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement I-9 audit.

All employers are now subject. Four other Riverside County towns have passed similar laws.

The link is here.

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