[JURIST] The US Department of Homeland Security [official website] is expected to issue stricter guidelines this week to enhance employer compliance with federal immigration regulations, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Under the proposed new rules, employers who receive notices from the Social Security Administration [official website] informing them of non-matching records between an employee's name and social security number (SSN) must resolve any discrepancy within 90 days, or be required to dismiss the employee or face up to $10,000 in fines for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants. Social Security Administration spokesperson Mark Hinkle told the Times that the agency sends out notices to employers with over 10 employees with SSN discrepancies and when those employees constitute at least 0.5 percent of the employer's total employees.

The new rules, first proposed last year, were not implemented to allow for congressional debate on immigration reform [JURIST news archive]. The proposed immigration reform bill, however, was rejected [JURIST report] by the Senate in June. The New York Times has more.