September 9, 2008

ICE signs 37 new partners in the IMAGE program
26 members and 11 associate members welcomed to training conference on best hiring practices

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a ceremony at its new headquarters in Arlington, Va., the ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program signed on 26 new members today to the corporate compliance group that already included nine charter members. In addition, 10 new companies and one association signed on as IMAGE associates, committing themselves to meeting the workforce compliance standards set by the IMAGE program at its inception in January 2007.

The new companies hail from around the United States and include a wide range of industries, including employment services, aviation, transportation, construction, high technology, shipping and manufacturing. In signing the IMAGE contract, these businesses are establishing a formal partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to follow the best hiring practices recommended by the program, train their staff to uphold the high standards required, and to use the screening tools offered by the federal government to ensure employees are lawfully authorized to work. Associate members are working to meet the standards set by the program, partnering with ICE officials to assess their business practices and improve, where necessary, the way they hire, process I-9 forms, maintain employment records and otherwise comply with U.S. laws on employment.

In welcoming the new companies, Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE, said, "Thank you for joining ICE in protecting national security by ensuring the integrity of your workforces."

"Your ability to aspire to and meet the IMAGE standard is an example to all those in your industry of corporate leadership and good citizenship. It's also a signal to your clients and business partners that you care about your brand and their reputation in partnering with you."

IMAGE membership begins with a self-assessment of hiring practices to uncover vulnerabilities that can be exploited by illegal aliens. Technical tools that screen job applicants, such as E-Verify, or screen Social Security Numbers, are integrated with best practices to assure that employees are legally eligible to work.

Companies that have been IMAGE members for more than two years attest that they are seeing more stability in their workforces and more interest on the part of clients in contracting with compliant companies.

After the ceremony, new members and associates joined the charter members in a three-day training by IMAGE experts in the latest safeguards for workforce integrity.

ICE also acknowledged today the endorsement of a major association, the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, which pledged to promote IMAGE membership among its member municipalities.

To learn more about the IMAGE program, go to www.ICE.gov and choose IMAGE from the "Partners" area of the website.

IMAGE Members

Charter

Aluminum Precision Products - Santa Ana, Calif.
Atlas Pallet Company - Nampa, Idaho
Colcon Corporation - Sullivan, Ill.
Colorado Structures, Inc. - Colorado Springs, Colo.
General Dynamics - Falls Church, Va.
Hitch Enterprises, Inc. - Guymon, Okla.
National Association of Foreign Trade Zones - Washington, D.C.
Staff Management, Inc. - Chicago 
Systems Painters and Drywall - New Ulm, Texas

Full

AccuWest Pacific, LLC - Sedro Woolley, Wash.
Apartment Rehabilitation Corporation - Newark
Atlanta Northside Aviation, Inc. - Kennesaw, Ga.
CHEP USA - Orlando
City of Palmdale - Palmdale, Calif.
Eagle Group International, LLC - Atlanta
Employment Verification Resources, Inc. - Reno
First Credit Union - Phoenix
First Montgomery Group - Newark
Fluid Components International, LLC - Canoga Park, Calif.
Hire Standards, LLC - Phoenix
HR Ideas, LLC - San Ramon, Calif.
Little Lady Foods, Inc. - Elk Grove Village, Ill.
New Dimension Human Capital Solutions, LLC - Troy, Mich.
The Odom Corporation - Bellevue, Wash.
Porter Industries, Inc. - Loveland, Colo.
Puerto Rico Freight Systems, Inc. - San Juan, P.R.
San Diego Flight Training International - San Diego
Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority - Sarasota, Fla.
Class 8 Parts Inc. - New Holland, Pa.
Sindall Transport Inc. - New Holland, Pa.
Sindall Truck Service, LLC - New Holland, Pa.
Sindall Warehouse & Distribution Inc. - New Holland, Pa.
Sundt Construction, Inc. - Phoenix
Swissport Cargo Services, L.P. - Los Angeles International Airport
SynQ Solutions, Inc. - Atlanta
TASER International, Inc. - Phoenix
TrueBlue, Inc. - Tacoma, Wash.
United Communities - Newark.

Associate

All American Brothers Company, LLC - Houston
DJ Manufacturing Corp. - Caguas, P.R.
El Conquistador Golf Resort & Casino - Los Croabas, P.R.
Express Employment Professionals of Mt. Vernon, Wash.
Express Employment Professionals of Bellingham, Wash.
International Shipping Agency, Inc. - San Juan, P.R.
National Group - San Juan, P.R.
Pulice Construction, Inc. - Phoenix
Smithfield Foods, Inc. - Smithfield, VA
Smith Protective Services - Dallas
Talent Tree, Inc. - Houston

Endorsee

New Jersey State League of Municipalities - Trenton, N.J.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

  Last Modified: