NEWS CONTACTS: Eric Thomas or Frances Cox (202) 822-9491 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 28, 2005

Compete America Applauds Labor Department Enforcement of Immigration Law Violations

Enforcement Action Protects the H-1B Visa Program for Legitimate Use

Washington, D.C. – Compete America applauded the U.S. Department of Labor today for enforcing immigration laws and ensuring that temporary foreign workers in the H-1B visa program are compensated fully and fairly. The enforcement action represents a significant step toward rooting out bad actors who abuse the nation's immigration system, using valuable and limited H-1B visas needed by technology companies, universities and hospitals to fill specialized positions requiring unique knowledge.

The Department of Labor's order requires Computech Inc., a Southfield, Michigan-based computer staffing firm, to pay $2,250,000 in back wages to 232 foreign workers as well a $400,000 fine. The order also prohibits the company from participating in the H-1B visa program for 18 months.

"This enforcement action shows that the system is working and the Department will not tolerate abuse of foreign workers or the temporary foreign worker program," said Sandra Boyd, Vice President, National Association of Manufacturers and Compete America Chair. "Foreign workers must be protected, and companies that abuse them and the system should be severely penalized so that legitimate employers have access to limited H-1B visas. We applaud the Department's actions."

Computech agreed to the penalties after an investigation by the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that the company had failed to pay required minimum wage rates to the non-immigrant H-1B workers it had brought into the United States. The investigation also revealed that Computech had frequently employed other methods to withhold compensation contrary to the rules of the H-1B program.

"We are currently experiencing a crisis-level shortage of H-1B visas in this country, and the H-1B visa program must be guarded against bad actors who spoil the system for employers who critically need foreign talent," added Lynn Shotwell, Executive Director of the American Council on International Personnel. "We are extremely pleased with the Department's action today and encourage the Department to continue in its enforcement efforts."

Compete America is a coalition of more than 200 corporations, universities, research institutions and trade associations concerned about legal, employment-based immigration and committed to ensuring that the United States has the highly educated workforce necessary to ensure continued innovation, job creation and leadership in a worldwide economy.

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