Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2014-title8/html/USCODE-2014-title8-chap12-subchapII-partVIII-sec1324a.htm
Timestamp: 2019-08-17 20:56:47
Document Index: 654434664

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1', '§309', '§521', '§2', '§1', '§379', '§411', '§3', '§521', '§538', '§143', '§101', '§3', '§101', '§101', '§402']

As used in this paragraph, the term "major change" means a change which would—
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(2), (5), (d)(2)(F), (G), and (h)(3), was in the original, "this Act", meaning act June 27, 1952, ch. 477, 66 Stat. 163, known as the Immigration and Nationality Act, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1101 of this title and Tables.
2004—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 108–390, §1(a)(1), inserted "Such attestation may be manifested by either a hand-written or an electronic signature." before "A person or entity has complied" in concluding provisions.
1991—Subsec. (b)(1)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 102–232, §309(b)(11), substituted "clause (i)" for "clause (ii)".
1990—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–649, §521(a), struck out "to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States" after "or other entity" in introductory provisions, inserted "to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States" after "(A)" in subpar. (A), and inserted "(i) to hire for employment in the United States an individual without complying with the requirements of subsection (b) of this section or (ii) if the person or entity is an agricultural association, agricultural employer, or farm labor contractor (as defined in section 1802 of title 29), to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States" after "(B)" in subpar. (B).
1988—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–525, §2(a)(1)(A), substituted "the first sentence of this paragraph" for "such sentence" and "such another document" for "such a document".
Pub. L. 108–390, §1(b), Oct. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2242, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the earlier of—
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title III, §379(b), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–650, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 1324c of this title] shall apply to orders issued on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996]."
Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title IV, §411(b), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009–666, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to failures occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996]."
[Pub. L. 105–54, §3(b), Oct. 6, 1997, 111 Stat. 1176, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending section 412(e) of div. C of Pub. L. 104–208, set out above] shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 [div. C of Pub. L. 104–208]."]
Pub. L. 101–649, title V, §521(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5053, provided that: "The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to recruiting and referring occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1990]."
Pub. L. 101–649, title V, §538(b), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5056, provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1990]."
"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct 3 pilot programs of employment eligibility confirmation under this subtitle.
"(b) Implementation Deadline; Termination.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement the pilot programs in a manner that permits persons and other entities to have elections under section 402 of this division made and in effect no later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996]. Unless the Congress otherwise provides, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall terminate a pilot program on September 30, 2015.
"(c) Scope of Operation of Pilot Programs.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide for the operation—
"(d) References in Subtitle.—In this subtitle—
"(1) Pilot program references.—The terms &apos;program&apos; or &apos;pilot program&apos; refer to any of the 3 pilot programs provided for under this subtitle.
"(2) Confirmation system.—The term &apos;confirmation system&apos; means the confirmation system established under section 404 of this division.
"(3) References to section 274a.—Any reference in this subtitle to section 274A (or a subdivision of such section) is deemed a reference to such section (or subdivision thereof) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1324a].
"(4) I–9 or similar form.—The term &apos;I–9 or similar form&apos; means the form used for purposes of section 274A(b)(1)(A) or such other form as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be appropriate.
"(5) Limited application to recruiters and referrers.—Any reference to recruitment or referral (or a recruiter or referrer) in relation to employment is deemed a reference only to such recruitment or referral (or recruiter or referrer) that is subject to section 274A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
"(6) United states citizenship.—The term &apos;United States citizenship&apos; includes United States nationality.
"(7) State.—The term &apos;State&apos; has the meaning given such term in section 101(a)(36) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(36)].
"(a) Voluntary Election.—Subject to subsection (c)(3)(B), any person or other entity that conducts any hiring (or recruitment or referral) in a State in which a pilot program is operating may elect to participate in that pilot program. Except as specifically provided in subsection (e), the Secretary of Homeland Security may not require any person or other entity to participate in a pilot program.
"(b) Benefit of Rebuttable Presumption.—
"(1) In general.—If a person or other entity is participating in a pilot program and obtains confirmation of identity and employment eligibility in compliance with the terms and conditions of the program with respect to the hiring (or recruitment or referral) of an individual for employment in the United States, the person or entity has established a rebuttable presumption that the person or entity has not violated section 274A(a)(1)(A) with respect to such hiring (or such recruitment or referral).
"(2) Construction.—Paragraph (1) shall not be construed as preventing a person or other entity that has an election in effect under subsection (a) from establishing an affirmative defense under section 274A(a)(3) if the person or entity complies with the requirements of section 274A(a)(1)(B) but fails to obtain confirmation under paragraph (1).
"(c) General Terms of Elections.—
"(1) In general.—An election under subsection (a) shall be in such form and manner, under such terms and conditions, and shall take effect, as the Secretary of Homeland Security shall specify. The Secretary of Homeland Security may not impose any fee as a condition of making an election or participating in a pilot program.
"(2) Scope of election.—
"(A) In general.—Subject to paragraph (3), any electing person or other entity may provide that the election under subsection (a) shall apply (during the period in which the election is in effect)—
"(B) Application of programs in non-pilot program states.—In addition, the Secretary of Homeland Security may permit a person or entity electing the citizen attestation pilot program (described in 403(b) of this division) or the machine-readable-document pilot program (described in section 403(c) of this division) to provide that the election applies to its hiring (or recruitment or referral) in one or more States or places of hiring (or recruitment or referral) in which the pilot program is not otherwise operating but only if such States meet the requirements of 403(b)(2)(A) and 403(c)(2) of this division, respectively.
"(3) Termination of elections.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may terminate an election by a person or other entity under this section because the person or entity has substantially failed to comply with its obligations under the pilot program. A person or other entity may terminate an election in such form and manner as the Secretary of Homeland Security shall specify.
"(d) Consultation, Education, and Publicity.—
"(1) Consultation.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall closely consult with representatives of employers (and recruiters and referrers) in the development and implementation of the pilot programs, including the education of employers (and recruiters and referrers) about such programs.
"(2) Publicity.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall widely publicize the election process and pilot programs, including the voluntary nature of the pilot programs and the advantages to employers (and recruiters and referrers) of making an election under this section.
"(3) Assistance through district offices.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall designate one or more individuals in each District office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service for a Service District in which a pilot program is being implemented—
"(e) Select Entities Required to Participate in a Pilot Program.—
"(1) Federal government.—
"(A) Executive departments.—
"(i) In general.—Each Department of the Federal Government shall elect to participate in a pilot program and shall comply with the terms and conditions of such an election.
"(ii) Election.—Subject to clause (iii), the Secretary of each such Department—
"(iii) Role of secretary of homeland security.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall assist and coordinate elections under this subparagraph in such manner as assures that—
"(B) Legislative branch.—Each Member of Congress, each officer of Congress, and the head of each agency of the legislative branch, that conducts hiring in a State in which a pilot program is operating shall elect to participate in a pilot program, may specify which pilot program or programs (if there is more than one) in which the Member, officer, or agency will participate, and shall comply with the terms and conditions of such an election.
"(2) Application to certain violators.—An order under section 274A(e)(4) or section 274B(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1324a(e)(4), 1324b(g)] may require the subject of the order to participate in, and comply with the terms of, a pilot program with respect to the subject's hiring (or recruitment or referral) of individuals in a State covered by such a program.
"(3) Consequence of failure to participate.—If a person or other entity is required under this subsection to participate in a pilot program and fails to comply with the requirements of such program with respect to an individual—
"(f) Construction.—This subtitle shall not affect the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security under any other law (including section 274A(d)(4)) to conduct demonstration projects in relation to section 274A.
"(a) E-Verify Program.—A person or other entity that elects to participate in the E-Verify Program described in this subsection agrees to conform to the following procedures in the case of the hiring (or recruitment or referral) for employment in the United States of each individual covered by the election:
"(1) Provision of additional information.—The person or entity shall obtain from the individual (and the individual shall provide) and shall record on the I–9 or similar form—
"(2) Presentation of documentation.—
"(A) In general.—The person or other entity, and the individual whose identity and employment eligibility are being confirmed, shall, subject to subparagraph (B), fulfill the requirements of section 274A(b) with the following modifications:
"(B) Limitation of requirement to examine documentation.—If the Secretary of Homeland Security finds that a pilot program would reliably determine with respect to an individual whether—
"(3) Seeking confirmation.—
"(A) In general.—The person or other entity shall make an inquiry, as provided in section 404(a)(1) of this division, using the confirmation system to seek confirmation of the identity and employment eligibility of an individual, by not later than the end of 3 working days (as specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security) after the date of the hiring (or recruitment or referral, as the case may be).
"(B) Extension of time period.—If the person or other entity in good faith attempts to make an inquiry during such 3 working days and the confirmation system has registered that not all inquiries were received during such time, the person or entity can make an inquiry in the first subsequent working day in which the confirmation system registers that it has received all inquiries. If the confirmation system cannot receive inquiries at all times during a day, the person or entity merely has to assert that the entity attempted to make the inquiry on that day for the previous sentence to apply to such an inquiry, and does not have to provide any additional proof concerning such inquiry.
"(4) Confirmation or nonconfirmation.—
"(A) Confirmation upon initial inquiry.—If the person or other entity receives an appropriate confirmation of an individual's identity and work eligibility under the confirmation system within the time period specified under section 404(b) of this division, the person or entity shall record on the I–9 or similar form an appropriate code that is provided under the system and that indicates a final confirmation of such identity and work eligibility of the individual.
"(B) Nonconfirmation upon initial inquiry and secondary verification.—
"(i) Nonconfirmation.—If the person or other entity receives a tentative nonconfirmation of an individual's identity or work eligibility under the confirmation system within the time period specified under 404(b) of this division, the person or entity shall so inform the individual for whom the confirmation is sought.
"(ii) No contest.—If the individual does not contest the nonconfirmation within the time period specified in section 404(c) of this division, the nonconfirmation shall be considered final. The person or entity shall then record on the I–9 or similar form an appropriate code which has been provided under the system to indicate a tentative nonconfirmation.
"(iii) Contest.—If the individual does contest the nonconfirmation, the individual shall utilize the process for secondary verification provided under section 404(c) of this division. The nonconfirmation will remain tentative until a final confirmation or nonconfirmation is provided by the confirmation system within the time period specified in such section. In no case shall an employer terminate employment of an individual because of a failure of the individual to have identity and work eligibility confirmed under this section until a nonconfirmation becomes final. Nothing in this clause shall apply to a termination of employment for any reason other than because of such a failure.
"(iv) Recording of conclusion on form.—If a final confirmation or nonconfirmation is provided by the confirmation system under section 404(c) of this division regarding an individual, the person or entity shall record on the I–9 or similar form an appropriate code that is provided under the system and that indicates a confirmation or nonconfirmation of identity and work eligibility of the individual.
"(C) Consequences of nonconfirmation.—
"(i) Termination or notification of continued employment.—If the person or other entity has received a final nonconfirmation regarding an individual under subparagraph (B), the person or entity may terminate employment (or recruitment or referral) of the individual. If the person or entity does not terminate employment (or recruitment or referral) of the individual, the person or entity shall notify the Secretary of Homeland Security of such fact through the confirmation system or in such other manner as the Secretary of Homeland Security may specify.
"(ii) Failure to notify.—If the person or entity fails to provide notice with respect to an individual as required under clause (i), the failure is deemed to constitute a violation of section 274A(a)(1)(B) with respect to that individual and the applicable civil monetary penalty under section 274A(e)(5) shall be (notwithstanding the amounts specified in such section) no less than $500 and no more than $1,000 for each individual with respect to whom such violation occurred.
"(iii) Continued employment after final nonconfirmation.—If the person or other entity continues to employ (or to recruit or refer) an individual after receiving final nonconfirmation, a rebuttable presumption is created that the person or entity has violated section 274A(a)(1)(A). The previous sentence shall not apply in any prosecution under section 274A(f)(1).
"(b) Citizen Attestation Pilot Program.—
"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraphs (3) through (5), the procedures applicable under the citizen attestation pilot program under this subsection shall be the same procedures as those under the E-Verify Program under subsection (a).
"(A) State document requirement to participate in pilot program.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not provide for the operation of the citizen attestation pilot program in a State unless each driver's license or similar identification document described in section 274A(b)(1)(D)(i) issued by the State—
"(B) Authorization to limit employer participation.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may restrict the number of persons or other entities that may elect to participate in the citizen attestation pilot program under this subsection as the Secretary of Homeland Security determines to be necessary to produce a representative sample of employers and to reduce the potential impact of fraud.
"(3) No confirmation required for certain individuals attesting to u.s. citizenship.—In the case of a person or other entity hiring (or recruiting or referring) an individual under the citizen attestation pilot program, if the individual attests to United States citizenship (under penalty of perjury on an I–9 or similar form which form states on its face the criminal and other penalties provided under law for a false representation of United States citizenship)—
"(4) Waiver of document presentation requirement in certain cases.—
"(A) In general.—In the case of a person or entity that elects, in a manner specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security consistent with subparagraph (B), to participate in the pilot program under this paragraph, if an individual being hired (or recruited or referred) attests (in the manner described in paragraph (3)) to United States citizenship and the person or entity retains the form on which the attestation is made and makes it available for inspection in the same manner as in the case of an I–9 form under section 274A(b)(3), the person or entity is not required to comply with the procedures described in section 274A(b).
"(B) Restriction.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall restrict the election under this paragraph to no more than 1,000 employers and, to the extent practicable, shall select among employers seeking to make such election in a manner that provides for such an election by a representative sample of employers.
"(5) Nonreviewable determinations.—The determinations of the Secretary of Homeland Security under paragraphs (2) and (4) are within the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security and are not subject to judicial or administrative review.
"(c) Machine-Readable-Document Pilot Program.—
"(1) In general.—Except as provided in paragraph (3), the procedures applicable under the machine-readable-document pilot program under this subsection shall be the same procedures as those under the E-Verify Program under subsection (a).
"(2) State document requirement to participate in pilot program.—The Secretary of Homeland Security may not provide for the operation of the machine-readable-document pilot program in a State unless driver's licenses and similar identification documents described in section 274A(b)(1)(D)(i) issued by the State include a machine-readable social security account number.
"(3) Use of machine-readable documents.—If the individual whose identity and employment eligibility must be confirmed presents to the person or entity hiring (or recruiting or referring) the individual a license or other document described in paragraph (2) that includes a machine-readable social security account number, the person or entity must make an inquiry through the confirmation system by using a machine-readable feature of such document. If the individual does not attest to United States citizenship under section 274A(b)(2), the individual's identification or authorization number described in subsection (a)(1)(B) shall be provided as part of the inquiry.
"(d) Protection From Liability for Actions Taken on the Basis of Information Provided by the Confirmation System.—No person or entity participating in a pilot program shall be civilly or criminally liable under any law for any action taken in good faith reliance on information provided through the confirmation system.
"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish a pilot program confirmation system through which the Secretary of Homeland Security (or a designee of the Secretary of Homeland Security, which may be a nongovernmental entity)—
"(b) Initial Response.—The confirmation system shall provide confirmation or a tentative nonconfirmation of an individual's identity and employment eligibility within 3 working days of the initial inquiry. If providing confirmation or tentative nonconfirmation, the confirmation system shall provide an appropriate code indicating such confirmation or such nonconfirmation.
"(c) Secondary Verification Process in Case of Tentative Nonconfirmation.—In cases of tentative nonconfirmation, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall specify, in consultation with the Commissioner of Social Security and the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, an available secondary verification process to confirm the validity of information provided and to provide a final confirmation or nonconfirmation within 10 working days after the date of the tentative nonconfirmation. When final confirmation or nonconfirmation is provided, the confirmation system shall provide an appropriate code indicating such confirmation or nonconfirmation.
"(d) Design and Operation of System.—The confirmation system shall be designed and operated—
"(4) to have reasonable safeguards against the system's resulting in unlawful discriminatory practices based on national origin or citizenship status, including—
"(e) Responsibilities of the Commissioner of Social Security.—As part of the confirmation system, the Commissioner of Social Security, in consultation with the entity responsible for administration of the system, shall establish a reliable, secure method, which, within the time periods specified under subsections (b) and (c), compares the name and social security account number provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by the Commissioner in order to confirm (or not confirm) the validity of the information provided regarding an individual whose identity and employment eligibility must be confirmed, the correspondence of the name and number, and whether the individual has presented a social security account number that is not valid for employment. The Commissioner shall not disclose or release social security information (other than such confirmation or nonconfirmation).
"(f) Responsibilities of the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.—As part of the confirmation system, the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, in consultation with the entity responsible for administration of the system, shall establish a reliable, secure method, which, within the time periods specified under subsections (b) and (c), compares the name and alien identification or authorization number described in section 403(a)(1)(B) of this division which are provided in an inquiry against such information maintained by the Commissioner in order to confirm (or not confirm) the validity of the information provided, the correspondence of the name and number, and whether the alien is authorized to be employed in the United States.
"(g) Updating Information.—The Commissioners of Social Security and the Immigration and Naturalization Service shall update their information in a manner that promotes the maximum accuracy and shall provide a process for the prompt correction of erroneous information, including instances in which it is brought to their attention in the secondary verification process described in subsection (c).
"(h) Limitation on Use of the Confirmation System and Any Related Systems.—
"(1) In general.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to permit or allow any department, bureau, or other agency of the United States Government to utilize any information, data base, or other records assembled under this subtitle for any other purpose other than as provided for under this subtitle.
"(2) No national identification card.—Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to authorize, directly or indirectly, the issuance or use of national identification cards or the establishment of a national identification card.
"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and of the Senate reports on the pilot programs within 3 months after the end of the third and fourth years in which the programs are in effect. Such reports shall—
"(b) Report on Expansion.—Not later than June 1, 2004, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report—
[Pub. L. 110–329, div. A, §143, Sept. 30, 2008, 122 Stat. 3580, as amended by Pub. L. 111–8, div. J, §101, Mar. 11, 2009, 123 Stat. 988, provided that: "Section 401(b) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 [Pub. L. 104–208] (8 U.S.C. 1324a note) shall be applied by substituting [&apos;]September 30, 2009[&apos;] for &apos;the 11-year period beginning on the first day the pilot program is in effect&apos;."]
[Pub. L. 107–128, §3, Jan. 16, 2002, 115 Stat. 2407, provided that: "The amendment made by this Act [amending section 401(b) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out above] shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Jan. 16, 2002]."]
"(a) Consultation.—Before June 1, 1991, the Attorney General shall consult with State governments on any proper State initiative to improve the security of State or local documents which would satisfy the requirements of section 274A(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a). The result of such consultations shall be reported, before September 1, 1991, to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States.
"(b) Assistance for State Initiatives.—After such consultation described in subsection (a), the Attorney General shall make grants to, and enter into contracts with (to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in an appropriation Act), the State of California and at least 2 other States with large immigrant populations to promote any State initiatives to improve the security of State or local documents which would satisfy the requirements of section 274A(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)(1)].
"(c) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Attorney General $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1992 to carry out subsection (b).
"(d) Report Required.—The Attorney General shall report to the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and House of Representatives not later than August 1, 1993, on the security of State or local documents which would satisfy the requirements of section 274A(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a), and any improvements in such documents that have occurred as a result of this section."
Pub. L. 99–603, title I, §101(a)(2), Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3372, provided that: "The Attorney General shall, not later than the first day of the seventh month beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 1986], first issue, on an interim or other basis, such regulations as may be necessary in order to implement this section [enacting this section, amending sections 1802, 1813, 1816, and 1851 of Title 29, Labor, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section, section 1802 of Title 29, and section 405 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare]."
"(5) The Attorney General shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a report—
Pub. L. 99–603, title I, §101(e), Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3373, provided that: "The Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Social Security Administration and in cooperation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Labor, shall conduct a study of the feasibility and costs of establishing a social security number validation system to assist in carrying out the purposes of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1324a], and of the privacy concerns that would be raised by the establishment of such a system. The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Ways and Means and Judiciary of the House of Representatives and to the Committees on Finance and Judiciary of the Senate, within 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 6, 1986], a full and complete report on the results of the study together with such recommendations as may be appropriate."
Pub. L. 99–603, title IV, §402, Nov. 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 3441, provided that: "The President shall transmit to Congress annual reports on the implementation of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1324a] (relating to unlawful employment of aliens) during the first three years after its implementation. Each report shall include—
"(3) an analysis of the impact of the enforcement of that section on—