In the 1996 overhaul of U.S. immigration law, certain violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) were included as chargeable offenses under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). These violations, among others, included the prohibition against hiring persons illegally present in the United States.

The inclusion of these violations under the RICO statutes presents advocates of firm enforcement of U.S. immigration law with a powerful weapon to combat the disregard for U.S. immigration laws.

NOTEWORTHY CASES:

ZAVALA v WAL-MART

(If you have suffered damages due to the alleged pattern of illegal hiring practices at Wal-mart, click here.)

WILLIAMS ET AL. v MOHAWK INDUSTRIES

MENDOZA ET AL. V ZIRKLE FRUIT CO. ET AL.

(Courtesy member attorney Howard Foster, Johnson & Bell, Ltd., Chicago, IL, lead attorney)