Twenty-One Puerto Rican Companies Become ‘IMAGE’ Certified

Twenty-one businesses representing the automotive, marketing, healthcare, restaurant, security, agriculture, food, and telecommunications industries became the latest employers to partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to strengthen their hiring practices, reduce fraud, and ensure they employ a legal workforce.

The 21 companies officially became members of ICE’s Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) on December 6, 2012. IMAGE, which began in 2006, is a voluntary program that allows private sector businesses to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents. As a result, ICE says, participating employers are able to maintain more secure, stable workforces.

As part of the IMAGE program, ICE provides private companies with education and training on proper hiring procedures, including use of employment screening tools such as E-Verify. IMAGE-certified companies also undergo an audit of their I-9 forms to ensure that current employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Puerto Rico employers interested in learning more about IMAGE membership may call the ICE IMAGE coordinator in San Juan at 787-729-5151.

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