Huffines urges Trump, ICE to audit all Texas agencies over alleged I-9 failures – WOAI

Huffines urges Trump, ICE to audit all Texas agencies over alleged I-9 failures  WOAI

SAN ANTONIO – Texas Comptroller Don Huffines is calling on President Trump and federal immigration authorities to audit every state and local government entity in Texas after an internal review found what his office described as potentially decades-long failures to properly complete and retain federal employment eligibility forms. In a press release from the Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Huffines said an agency-wide performance review he ordered uncovered what appears to be “decades of systemic failures” in employment eligibility verification practices and compliance with federal Form I-9 requirements. Form I-9, also known as Employment Eligibility Verification, is used to identify and verify the identity and legal work authorization of every individual hired to work in the United States.

The comptroller’s office said the full scope of the problem is still being determined, but that the issues “may date back as far as 20 years” and could expose taxpayers to “approximately $5 million or more in federal civil penalties,” based on a preliminary internal assessment. The office said it has engaged independent outside legal counsel to conduct a full investigation and that it “will not contest legitimate penalties.” “My message to Texans never changed: audit government, expose corruption. It is your money,” Huffines said. “I said I could not wait to clean out the garage. This just scratches