Denver Firms Hit with $8M in Fines for Unauthorized Workers

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted audits of three Denver cleaning companies, leading to more than $8 million in imposed fines. ICE investigators found 143 unauthorized foreign workers throughout the businesses during their investigation. The ICES Denver office sent fines-to-be-issued documents to CCS Denver Inc. and PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems Inc., and Green Management Denver after it discovered substantial violations in employee eligibility verification. Investigators imposed the highest penalty of $6,186,171 on CCS Denver because they documented complete substantive violations along with evidence showing 87 intentional hiring of unauthorized workers.

The Other Penalties Included:

• PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems: Fined $1,599,510 for a 74% violation rate and employing at least 12 unauthorized workers
• Green Management Denver: Assessed $270,195 after a 100% violation rate, and 44 unauthorized employees were identified

Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen expressed during the announcement that unauthorized worker employment weakens our immigration system and hurts legitimate business owners. The workplace enforcement strategy of Homeland Security Investigations depends on three avenues to ensure business compliance with federal employment laws through I-9 audits, alongside civil penalties and necessary criminal prosecution.