LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 12, 2021) ― Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday directed the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to stop mass worksite raids and to take actions to promote a fair labor market by supporting more effective enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights and other employment laws and standards.
In accordance with a memorandum issued by Secretary Mayorkas, ICE, CBP, and USCIS will develop and update policies to enhance the Department’s impact in supporting the enforcement of employment and labor standards. The agencies must also develop strategies for prioritizing workplace enforcement against unscrupulous employers and, through the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, facilitate the participation of vulnerable workers in labor standards investigations. The memorandum also calls for broader and deeper mechanisms for coordination with interagency partners to enforce worker protections.
“This is welcome news for the many horse industry businesses and employers, including trainers who pay close attention to labor laws,” said NTRA President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop.
The complete text of the memo can be found here.
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