As the Human Resource Manager for a mid-sized manufacturing company, I was in charge of many important, mostly challenging, projects, and some were fun. Implementing this employee Veteran Wall honoring our employees who have or are serving in our Nation’s armed forces was indeed a fun project. It meant a lot to the employees and their families. It was also pretty interesting to see some of the employees’ old military photographs. Overall, it was a largely successful project and was fun to direct. I have always honored the military and the families that support them. I cannot even begin to imagine what they sacrifice on an ongoing basis. I applaud the military members who have and do risk their lives. I cherish my freedom. I am grateful that my husband, son, and I get to be with each other nearly every day. I thank each and every one of you for your service to our wonderful Nation and I honor your contributions in efforts to maintain our national security and American freedom! May you be showered with gratitude, hand shakes, and many thank you’s this Veteran’s Day, but not only this day, EVERYDAY! I think our Veteran’s Wall was a fantastic addition to the company’s lobby and was a joy to implement and inaugurate!

In 2011 alone, ICE conducted I-9 audits of almost 2,500  U.S. employers, criminally arrested 221 of them,  and ordered more than $10.5 million in fines.  (Source: ice.gov - Nov. 4, 2011 press release).  In order to increase the pressure on U.S. businesses  to ensure they are hiring only those legally eligible  to work in the U.S., ICE has stated that employers  of all sizes and in every industry will be targeted  by their inspectors, with stepped up resources  that will support more auditors and more prosecutions. 
By: Kandi Mensing