The U.S. Department of Justice has announced that beginning August 1, 2016 they will increase the penalties for unlawfully employing immigrants, unfair employment practices tied to immigration, and for so-called “paperwork violations” on Forms I-9.
The new rule will enhance Form I-9 paperwork violations from a maximum of $1,100 to $2,156 per violation, and a minimum from $110 to $216. The minimum penalty for employing undocumented individuals will increase from $375 to $539, while the maximum will go from $3,200 to $4,313. Employers with multiple violations will face a new maximum penalty of $21,563 for unlawfully employing immigrants. For unfair immigration-related employment practices, a first fine could cost as much as $3,563 per person discriminated against.
These new penalties will take effect on August 1st and apply to all violations that took place after November 2, 2015.