15 Puerto Rican companies become 'IMAGE' partners
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Fifteen businesses representing the security, retail, healthcare, food and banking 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 15 companies officially became members of ICE's Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) Tuesday during the largest IMAGE signing ceremony nationwide for this fiscal year. A total of 97 companies of Puerto Rico have now joined IMAGE since the inception of the program. IMAGE 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, a participating employer is able to maintain a more secure, stable workforce.
“I am pleased to welcome our new IMAGE partners,” said Ricardo Mayoral, deputy special agent in charge of HSI San Juan, who has been working closely with company officials in the IMAGE participation process. “This action sends a strong message to the thousands of Puerto Ricans who do business with these companies that the company places a priority on hiring and employing a legal workforce. Our IMAGE partnerships enable us to recognize the highest level of employment integrity and foster best hiring practices. When employers make a commitment to hire and maintain a lawful workforce, it's good for their business and it's good for the community. Our new partners have made a commitment to protecting our nation’s lawful workforce.”
Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legal United States workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.
The following companies became the latest IMAGE partners:
- Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Aguas Buenas
- Cooperativa de Ahorro y Crédito Vega Alta
- Pueblo Inc.
- MSW, LLC
- Roger Electric
- Holsum de Puerto Rico
- MMM Holdings, LLC
- MSO of Puerto Rico
- Ralph’s Food Warehouse
- Centro Quirurgico de la Montaña
- ISP, Inc.
- Orianys Contractors
- Eastern A/C & Maintenance Services Corp.
- S.O.L. Security Services
- Telemundo de Puerto Rico
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 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 or visit www.ICE.gov/image.
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