Fourteen New England employers — including a New Hampshire-based fish processor with two New Bedford sites — have been fined for various violations that enabled the companies to hire illegal immigrants, ICE officials said.
According to a news release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the 14 were cited following an investigation and audit of Form I-9 documents, which detail employment eligibility.
One of those companies was Seatrade International Co., based in Portsmouth, N.H., with locations at 8 South St. and 360 S. Front St. in New Bedford.
Seatrade was fined an unspecified amount after an audit examining the company's paperwork. According to ICE, discrepancies revealed by the audit suggested the company could be employing illegal immigrants.
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