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HSI Norfolk ASAC Jim Stitzel addresses the media during a press conference Aug. 9 at the Norfolk Federal Building
HSI Norfolk labor trafficking investigation leads to historic sentencing for 4 Virginians
August 11, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking, Labor Exploitation, Child Exploitation
According to the HSI-led investigation, Ana Patricia Landaverde, 47, a citizen of El Salvador; Jeffrey Dean Vaughan, 64, of Williamsburg; George William Evans, 68, of Midlothian; and Salvador Jeronimo-Sis, a citizen of Guatemala, engaged in a conspiracy to harbor, transport and benefit from employing undocumented noncitizens at their commercial laundry business, Northstar Holdings of Virginia, LLC, d/b/a Magnolia Cleaning Services, LLC.
ICE updates Form I-9 requirement flexibility to grant employers more time to comply with requirements
May 4, 2023
|Covid-19, Labor Exploitation
DHS and ICE announced today that employers will have 30 days to reach compliance with Form I-9 requirements after the COVID-19 flexibilities sunset on July 31, 2023.
HSI McAllen investigation results in South Texas couple admitting to benefiting from forced labor
March 2, 2023
|Labor Exploitation
Eduardo Javier Gomez, 32, and Margarita Alvarez, 40, a former couple from Edinburg, pleaded guilty in federal court to benefiting from forced labor following an HSI investigation.
HSI Norfolk investigation leads to Virginia business owner admitting to money laundering, conspiracy involving labor trafficking
February 6, 2023
|Human Smuggling/Trafficking, Labor Exploitation, Financial Crimes
According to the HSI Norfolk investigation, George William Evans, 68, participated in a conspiracy to harbor, transport, and benefit from the employment of undocumented noncitizens at the commercial laundry business he co-owned.
HSI Norfolk investigation results in indictments for 4 in connection with labor trafficking, forced labor at Virginia laundry facility
December 12, 2022
|Labor Exploitation
According to the investigation, Ana Patricia Landaverde, 47, of Williamsburg, Virginia; Jeffrey Dean Vaughan, 64, of Williamsburg, Virginia; and George William Evans, 68, of Midlothian, Virginia engaged in a conspiracy to harbor, transport and benefit from employing undocumented noncitizens at their commercial laundry business, Northstar Holdings of Virginia, LLC, d/b/a Magnolia Cleaning Services, LLC.
IMAGE Signing
El Paso businesses partner with ICE HSI to ensure legal hiring practices
April 6, 2022
|Labor Exploitation
Transmountain Corral LLC, DBA Golden Corral, is an American restaurant chain that offers an all-you-can-eat buffet and grill. It is a privately held company headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, with locations in 43 U.S. states. The Transmountain location employs 56 workers. Established in 1996, ACG has been in business for over 24 years. A minority owned business. ACG manages large-scale and small-scale projects from construction and security cameras to IT engineering and audio visual services. Its customers include the Department of the Interior, Department of Defense, German Air Force, NASA, as well as multiple school districts. It has 27 employees.
ICE HSI investigation leads to conviction for harboring undocumented workers
January 18, 2022
|Labor Exploitation
After four hours of jury deliberation, Yun Zheng, aka Wendy, 50, and Yan Qui Wu, aka Jason, 48, were found guilty of four counts of concealing, harboring, or shielding a person, whom they knew to be undocumented residents of the United States, for commercial advantage and private financial gain.
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
December 15, 2021
|Student and Exchange Visitor Program, Covid-19, Labor Exploitation
This extension will continue to apply the guidance previously issued for employees hired on or after April 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions.
Human trafficking, forced labor charges are first under ICE’s new labor exploitation program focusing on abusive employers
November 29, 2021
|Labor Exploitation
To align worksite investigation with ICE’s victim-centered approach to investigations, HSI has shifted to its posture to a new model focused on unscrupulous employers who exploit noncitizens, based on their lack of lawful immigration status, through dangerous work conditions, underpayment, and using those noncitizens as a “business model” to maximize profits.
Restaurant owner sentenced to federal prison for harboring undocumented workers and tax fraud following HSI investigation
November 22, 2021
|Labor Exploitation
Quanwei Shi, 31, was sentenced for conspiracy to harbor undocumented residents; harboring undocumented residents; money laundering; tax evasion; and employment tax fraud. Shi and restaurant co-owner Chongqiang Chen, 30, also of Clarksville, were both arrested in April 2020, after a 14-count federal indictment charged them in a scheme to harbor undocumented workers and to defeat the tax laws of the United States. Shi pleaded guilty in March.
ICE announces extension to new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility
August 31, 2021
|Labor Exploitation
Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy until Dec. 31, 2021.
ICE announces extension, new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility
May 26, 2021
|Labor Exploitation
The current extension includes guidance for employees hired on or after Jun. 1, 2021, and work exclusively in a remote setting due to COVID-19-related precautions. Those employees are temporarily exempt from the physical inspection requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) until they undertake non-remote employment on a regular, consistent, or predictable basis, or the extension of the flexibilities related to such requirements is terminated, whichever is earlier.
ICE announces extension, new employee guidance to I-9 compliance flexibility
March 31, 2021
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19
ICE today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was initially granted last year.  Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the DHS will extend this policy until May 31, 2021.
Chicago staffing company executive sentenced for assisting in hiring noncitizens
March 1, 2021
|Labor Exploitation
Sergio Badani, 51, of St. Charles, Illinois, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis sentenced to two years’ probation on one count of conspiracy to commit harboring for purposes of commercial advantage. Judge Ellis also fined Badani $15,000. He had previously pleaded guilty to the charge last year.
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
January 27, 2021
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19
ICE today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, DHS will extend this policy until March 31, 2021.
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
December 23, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19
ICE today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, DHS will extend this policy until Jan. 31, 2021.
ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
November 18, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19
ICE today announced an extension of the flexibilities in rules related to Form I-9 compliance that was granted earlier this year. Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, DHS will extend this policy until Dec. 31, 2020.
Savantis Solutions to pay $345,000 to resolve allegations concerning immigration and labor violations
September 14, 2020
|Labor Exploitation

Savantis Solutions, LLC, (formerly Vedicsoft Solutions, LLC and Vedicsoft Holdings, LLC) an Edison, New Jersey based corporation involved in consulting, technology and staffing, utilizing primarily foreign nationals in the United States pursuant to H1-B visas, agreed to resolve allegations that the company violated immigration and employment regulations concerning continuous employment and wage requirements.

ICE announces extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
September 14, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19

Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will extend this policy for an additional 60 days. The expiration date for these accommodations is now November 19, 2020.

ICE announces another extension to I-9 compliance flexibility
August 18, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19

Due to the continued precautions related to COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will further extend this policy for an additional 30 days. The expiration date for these accommodations is now Sept. 19.

Managers, supervisors, human resource personnel indicted for crimes stemming from the largest single-state worksite enforcement action in nation's history
August 6, 2020
|Labor Exploitation

This was the largest single-state worksite enforcement operation in our nation’s history, resulting in the detention of 680 illegal aliens and the prosecution of 119 illegal aliens for stealing the identities of American citizens, falsifying immigration documents, fraudulently claiming to be U.S. citizens, and illegal re-entering the country after being deported, among other federal crimes.

ICE announces another extension to I-9 compliance flexibility, no more extensions for employers to respond to NOIs served in March
July 18, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19

Employers are required to monitor the DHS and ICE websites for additional updates regarding when the extensions will be terminated, and normal operations will resume.

North Texas construction company CFO sentenced for role in scheme to employ illegal aliens
June 24, 2020
|Labor Exploitation

Robert James, CFO for Speed Fab-Crete in Kennedale, Texas, was sentenced to three months in federal prison and ordered to pay a $69,000 fine for bringing in and harboring illegal aliens.

ICE announces another 30-day extension of flexibility in rules related to Form I-9 compliance
June 16, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19

On March 19 due to precautions implemented by employers and employees associated with COVID-19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would exercise prosecutorial discretion to defer the physical presence requirements associated with the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) under section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision, as explained in the guidance below, was implemented for 60 days and was set to expire on May 19.

ICE announces extension of flexibility in rules related to Form I-9 compliance
May 14, 2020
|Labor Exploitation, Covid-19

Employers who were served notices of inspection (NOIs) by ICE during the month of March 2020 and had not already responded were granted an automatic extension for 60 days from the effective date. ICE will grant an additional extension of 30 days to these employers.

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Updated: 03/10/2023