About 30 employees, employer under scrutiny
November 13, 2011
ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A ceramics manufacturer in south Forsyth is involved in a federal criminal investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security.
Vincent Picard, a spokesman for ICE's Homeland Security said on Oct. 26, agents "conducted an enforcement operation at Innovation Ceramics in Alpharetta."
Picard said he could not release additional details about the government's investigation. The business, 3020 Trotters Parkway in Alpharetta, makes and distributes tile products to building, designing and architectural communities and has been in operation for about nine years, a company employee who wanted to remain anonymous told the Forsyth Herald.
On Nov. 7, Innovation Ceramics President Hans J. Pracht did not want to comment about the federal investigation.
The company is trying to get employees' work documents in order for ICE officials, an employee told the Forsyth Herald. About 30 workers are being investigated.
"As this is an ongoing investigation, no other information is available at this time," Picard said.
Joseph A. Azar, an attorney representing about six of the workers at Innovation Ceramics who may qualify for political asylum, did not return requests for an interview.
Those close to the investigation said that when agents raiding the facility arrived Oct. 26, they discovered several employees working without their Social Security card.
Some of the 30 people were taken into custody. Many of the women, the number of workers is unconfirmed, were let go because they are mothers who had children in school, sources say.
Unlike a state criminal investigation, most of the documents, including search warrants involved in federal criminal investigations, are not subject to public disclosure laws, Picard said.
Picard said that companies have a number of options, including the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program, to find out "how to remain in compliance with the law and ensure they are following best practices in hiring."
According to the National Immigration Law Center, IMAGE raises a number of questions and concerns.
"The program's requirement that employers verify their employees' Social Security numbers through the Social Security Number Verification System and verify their employment eligibility through the Basic Pilot program are of particular concern," the immigrant advocacy group says. "Workers' advocates have long distrusted the accuracy of the Social Security Administration and DHS databases and have known that some unscrupulous employers abuse these programs."
Labels: Homeland Security, ICE, Innovation Ceramics in Alpharetta
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 8:58 AM
