DHS Details Worksite Enforcement Strategy

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas recently directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to take actions to promote a fair labor market by supporting more effective enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights, and other employment laws and standards, according to a news release.

“The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a critical role to ensure our nation’s workplaces comply with our laws,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “We will not tolerate unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers, conduct illegal activities or impose unsafe working conditions. Employers engaged in illegal acts compel the focus of our enforcement resources. By adopting policies that focus on the most unscrupulous employers, we will protect workers as well as legitimate American businesses.”

In accordance with a memorandum issued by Secretary Mayorkas on Oct. 12, ICE, CBP and USCIS will develop and update policies to enhance the department’s impact in supporting the enforcement of employment and labor standards. The agencies must also develop strategies for prioritizing workplace enforcement against unscrupulous employers and – through the exercise of prosecutorial discretion – facilitate the participation of vulnerable workers in labor standards investigations, the release noted.

The memorandum also establishes an end to mass worksite enforcement operations and calls for broader and deeper mechanisms for coordination with interagency partners to enforce worker protections. Click here to read the full release.