7
OPINION
P roject Firewall. That moniker marks the most recent sweeping enforcement effort initiated by the Department of Labor to target employer compliance with the H-1B visa program. Businesses across the U.S. face increased federal scrutiny, making proactive workforce compliance essential to mitigate risk and avoid costly penalties. Proactive immigration compliance strategies
This announcement follows significant proposed changes to the H-1B visa program, the termination of work authorization for hundreds of thousands of people with Temporary Protected Status, numerous raids on industry and location specific targets across the U.S., increased EEOC actions focused on bias against American workers, increased I-9 audits and site visits, and more. While the architecture, engineering, and construction industries are no strangers to compliance burdens, be it from OSHA regulations, state and local zoning and permitting requirements, to licensing and environmental rules, today, amid heightened scrutiny on the immigrant workforce, industry leadership must also add worksite enforcement to that list of concerns. Much like safety planning or site logistics, worksite enforcement protocols require renewed attention.
Managing mobile and distributed workforce such as surveyors in trucks, engineers inspecting client job sites, subcontracted crews operating across multiple locations, create further compliance confusion, especially when employees are not based at a central, controlled facility. Adding subcontractors, vendors and staffing agencies creates the need to understand indirect exposure and the possibility of joint employer liability. It is essential for firms to have a strong understanding of their workforce, their vendor relationships, and where they face the greatest exposure. Preparation is less about expecting the worst and more about integrating compliance into daily operations. By aligning your business processes with regulatory expectations, AEC firms can respond swiftly, protect
Nam Douglass, Esq.
See NAM DOUGLASS, page 8
THE ZWEIG LETTER OCTOBER 27, 2025, ISSUE 1607
ELEVATE THE INDUSTRY®
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker