I-9 Compliance and Employer Immigration Attorney in San Antonio, Texas
Employer Compliance
I-9 Compliance: Protecting Your Business Before an Audit Arrives
Every employer in the United States must verify the identity and work authorization of each employee on Form I-9, and the government takes it seriously. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can audit those records with little notice, and penalties apply even when every worker is authorized, simply for paperwork errors. For Texas employers, sound I-9 practices are not optional, they are risk management.
At Lozano Law Firm, employer compliance is handled under the direction of Alfredo Lozano, Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law. Our bilingual team helps businesses in San Antonio, Eagle Pass, and San Angelo get their I-9 house in order and respond when the government comes calling. Start with a free consultation.
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How We Help Employers Stay Compliant
I-9 compliance is part paperwork and part process. Small, consistent habits prevent the large penalties that come from a disorganized file.
Internal I-9 Audits
We review your existing I-9 records the way a government auditor would, identify technical and substantive errors, and guide lawful corrections. Fixing problems on your own terms, before an inspection, is far better than explaining them afterward.
Policies and Training
Most I-9 errors come from well-meaning staff who were never trained properly. We help you put clear policies in place and train your human resources team on completing, storing, and re-verifying I-9s correctly and consistently.
E-Verify Guidance
Some employers are required to use E-Verify and others choose to, and it interacts with the I-9 process in specific ways. We advise on whether and how to use it, and how to handle mismatches without crossing into discrimination.
Responding to a Notice of Inspection
When ICE serves a Notice of Inspection, the clock starts immediately and how you respond matters. We step in to manage the response, protect your rights, correct what can be corrected, and work to limit exposure and penalties.
The Employers We Advise
Our I-9 clients range from small family businesses to companies with hundreds of employees, and most come to us wanting to get ahead of a problem rather than react to one. We build practical routines that fit how a business actually hires, train the staff who complete the forms, and stay on call if a government notice ever arrives. When mistakes have already happened, we help correct them in a defensible way. Employers across Texas value having counsel who can translate complex verification rules into steps their teams can follow day to day.
As more hiring happens remotely and through electronic systems, we also help employers apply the verification rules correctly to a distributed workforce, where a small process gap can quietly repeat across many locations before anyone notices. Building the right habits now is far cheaper than untangling them later.
Our Process
What to Expect
Free Case Evaluation
We start with a no-cost consultation to review your situation, explain your options, and identify the strongest path forward for your family.
Case Preparation
Our team assembles your petition with the documentation and evidence USCIS expects, prepared accurately the first time to avoid delays.
Filing & Follow-Through
We file, track deadlines, respond to USCIS, and prepare you for every interview until your case is resolved.
What to Expect During an I-9 Audit
An audit usually begins when ICE serves a Notice of Inspection, typically giving the employer a short window, often just three business days, to produce its I-9 records. The agency then reviews the forms for both technical violations, such as missing information, and substantive violations, such as failing to verify a worker at all.
After the review, the government may issue notices of suspect documents, technical failures to be corrected, or fines. Penalties can add up quickly across a workforce, and knowingly employing unauthorized workers carries heavier consequences. Having counsel involved from the first day of the notice is the best way to protect the business, and it is exactly the moment employers most often wait too long to call.
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Hire a Board-Certified Immigration Attorney
Fewer than five percent of Texas immigration attorneys are Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Attorney Alfredo Lozano holds that distinction, and since founding the firm in 2006 he has brought a Marine Corps veteran's discipline, more than 20 years of immigration experience, and a fully bilingual team to every case the firm handles.
Our approach combines personalized counsel with the documentation rigor these cases demand, so your petition is prepared correctly the first time. Board Certification means the state has independently verified his experience, tested his knowledge, and confirmed his standing among peers, which is the kind of assurance that matters when your family's future is on the line.
Meet
Our Team
Our team includes experienced attorneys, legal professionals, and client-care specialists who share a common commitment: making the immigration process as clear and manageable as possible for every family we serve.
Alfredo Lozano
Managing Attorney
Board-Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law and a Marine Corps veteran who leads every case strategy.
Linda Hamilton
Attorney
Guides families and employers through petitions, waivers, and interviews with steady, detailed advocacy.
Minerva Gonzalez
Legal Assistant
Prepares documentation and keeps every case organized, accurate, and moving forward.
Mayra Juarez
Legal Administrator
Coordinates case management and client communication across our three Texas offices.
Download Our Free E-Book
How to Obtain Residency If You Are in the U.S. Illegally
Entering the country without inspection does not always close the door to a green card. Our free guide walks through the options that may apply, from Section 245(i) and Military Parole in Place to the I-601A provisional waiver, in plain language.
Download the guide to understand the paths that could be available to your family, then contact us for advice on your specific situation.
Employer Compliance Help Across South and West Texas
We advise employers throughout the region, in English and Spanish, from small family businesses to larger operations. Whether you want a proactive internal audit or you have just received a Notice of Inspection, we help you understand your obligations and protect your business. Every engagement begins with a free consultation.
REQUEST A CONSULTATION
Request Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your family's situation and our bilingual team will reach out to schedule your free case evaluation.
I-9 Compliance FAQs
What is Form I-9?
Form I-9 is the document every U.S. employer must complete to verify the identity and employment authorization of each person hired. The employer examines acceptable documents and records the information, and must retain the form for a required period.
What triggers an I-9 audit?
Audits can be prompted by a random selection, an industry focus, a tip, or a broader enforcement action. Because you often cannot predict one, the best protection is keeping your I-9 records accurate and organized at all times, which a proactive internal audit helps ensure.
What are the penalties for I-9 violations?
Penalties apply for paperwork and technical violations even when workers are authorized, and they increase for knowingly hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized workers. Across a workforce, fines can become substantial, which is why prevention is far cheaper than defense.
Should my business use E-Verify?
It depends. Some employers are required to use E-Verify and others choose to for added assurance, but it must be used correctly to avoid discrimination and other pitfalls. We help you decide whether it fits your business and how to use it properly.
What should we do if we receive a Notice of Inspection?
Contact an attorney immediately, because you usually have only a few business days to respond. Do not ignore it, and do not alter records. We help you gather the requested documents, assert your rights, make lawful corrections, and manage the process to limit exposure.
Lozano Law Firm
Cases We Do Not Handle
Lozano Law Firm focuses exclusively on the practice areas listed above. We do not handle asylum or criminal immigration cases. When clients come to us with needs outside our scope, we refer them to trusted colleagues who specialize in those areas. Our referral network includes attorneys who handle asylum claims and criminal immigration consequences, so every person who contacts us receives direction toward the right help.
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Start Your Journey Today
Immigration goals should not wait. Whether you are exploring your options for the first time or ready to move forward with a case, our team is here to help. Contact Lozano Law Firm for a free case evaluation and let us put our Board-Certified expertise to work for you.
Schedule your free case evaluation today.
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