2 San Diego-area businesses join ICE's IMAGE program

SAN DIEGO — Two San Diego-area businesses representing the steel and security industries are the latest employers to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) partnership program designed to strengthen hiring practices and combat the unlawful employment of unauthorized workers.

Rossin Steel Inc. of Chula Vista and Able Patrol and Guard of San Diego are among the 13 local employers to become certified ICE Mutual Agreement Between Government and Employers (IMAGE) members since the program began in 2006. The two companies were certified as IMAGE partners earlier this month. IMAGE is a voluntary program that allows private industry to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents.

"It is my pleasure to welcome Rossin Steel Inc. and Able Patrol and Guard to our IMAGE family," said Derek Benner, special agent in charge for HSI San Diego. "The new partnerships underscore the importance of protecting the integrity of the workforce while fostering best hiring practices. When employers strive to maintain a lawful workforce, it's good for their business and it's good for the economy."

Founded in 2005, Rossin Steel Inc. currently employees more than 80 individuals and has worked on a number of high-profile construction projects in the San Diego area, including the Horton Plaza shopping center and the airport tower at Lindberg Field.

Able Patrol and Guard is a family business that began providing uniformed security services in California in 1964. Able Patrol and Guard has been nominated for a number of awards, including small business of the year. Able Patrol and Guard has approximately 120 employees and works with organizations that help disadvantaged students earn college scholarships.

Undocumented workers create vulnerabilities in today's marketplace by presenting false documents to gain employment, completing applications for fraudulent benefits, and stealing identities of legally authorized workers. To combat this, ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006.

As part of the IMAGE program, ICE provides companies with education and training on proper hiring procedures, including the use of an employment eligibility verification program known as E-Verify. This Internet-based system is available nationwide and is free of charge to employers. IMAGE companies also undergo an I-9 audit by HSI to ensure their employees are eligible to work in the United States.

Companies interested in more information on the IMAGE program can call HSI San Diego at 619-550-5198 or visit www.ICE.gov/image. 

To report suspicious activity, call ICE's 24-hour toll-free hotline at: 1-866-347-2423 or visit www.ice.gov.