Bill Would Significantly Increase Employer Penalties for Hiring Illegal Workers

Rep. Sue Wilkins Myrick (R-NC) has reintroduced legislation that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to substantially increase employer penalties for violations. The 10k Run for the Border Act (H.R. 1698) would increase the fines for knowingly hiring or recruiting an undocumented worker, or continuing to employ an illegal alien when the employee’s legal status changes or becomes known.

Under the terms of this bill, an employer could be fined between $10,000 and $80,000 for each violation, an increase from the current $250-$2,000 penalty range. For an employer with a prior violation, the penalties would be increased to between $80,000 and $200,000, up from $2,000 to $5,000 per violation under current law. For a repeat offender, the fine skyrockets to a range of $120,000 to $1.6 million. The current fine for such a repeat offense is a minimum penalty of $3,000 and a maximum of $10,000.

If state or local law enforcement officials provide material assistance in investigating or prosecuting employers that are in violation of this law, they are entitled to 80 percent of the fines paid by those employers. It follows that such large financial incentives would increase enforcement.

The provisions of this amendment would take effect on the day of enactment. Prior versions of this bill have been introduced within the past six years, but have failed to advance.

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