During the last two years, immigration law and related enforcement have become a central focus of domestic policy discussions. This spans more than border walls and detention centers and includes increased activity concerning I-9 compliance. The Department of Homeland Security administers the country's I-9 program, which makes it mandatory for all employers to verify their employees' employment eligibility, regardless of citizenship or company size.

DHS's Immigration and Customs Enforcement has escalated its efforts to oversee and enforce I-9 compliance, both in terms of conducting audits and worksite raids. It is more important now than ever that employers understand and properly implement processes in line with the relevant immigration compliance requirements to minimize the risk of six-figure fines and other penal actions, including criminal prosecution and debarment from federal contracts.

Foreign nationals working illegally have been a growing concern over the past 100 years. Yet comprehensive regulations were not implemented until 1986 when President Ronald Reagan signed the Immigration Reform and Control Act into law. IRCA represented a significant milestone in immigration policy, codifying the prohibition of employing aliens not authorized to work and establishing the I-9 program.