Federal Contractors That Knowingly Hired Illegal Aliens May Be Debarred
Seven companies previously found to have knowingly hired illegal aliens are being considered for debarment from federal contracting, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement news release. Although ICE has not previously used the debarment option, it is now seen as a potentially useful tool for protecting law-abiding businesses from unfair competition.
The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) ยง 9.406-2(b)(2) provides that several violations of the Immigration and Nationality Act may be grounds for debarring a company from federal contracting. Those grounds may include convictions for knowingly hiring or continuing to employ illegal aliens. ICE Asst. Secretary Julie Myers said "By using debarment in appropriate circumstances, the federal government can avoid working with businesses that employ an illegal workforce and unscrupulously undercut their competitors to gain an unfair market advantage because of reduced labor costs. This is yet another tool that we believe will further ensure compliance with our nation's immigration employment laws."
The following companies were notified that they may be debarred:
- Bynum Brothers Home Improvement Co., in Buffalo, N.Y.;
- CMC Concrete Construction Inc., in Manassas, Va.;
- Hedges Landscape Specialists Inc., also doing business as Exterior Designs Inc. and Performance Irrigation LLC, in Crestwood, Ky.;
- Lochirco Fruit & Produce Inc. doing business as Happy Apples, in Union, Mo.;
- MC Cleaning in Bangor, Maine;
- Morgan Jones LLC in Baltimore, Md.; and
- Stonewall Concrete Inc., in Manassas, Va.
The companies have 30 days to challenge the proposed debarment, but are already prohibited from competing for new government contracts while their fate is being contemplated.