As U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shifts to cracking down on employers rather than individual illegal immigrants, U.S. businesses are increasingly in need of expert guidance for navigating the complicated legal and policy landscape. Dallas-based Yarbrough Strategic Advisors has broadened its growing investigations group with the addition of longtime federal immigration investigator A.J. Irwin.

In his capacity as the firm's Director of Investigations, Irwin advises client companies on best practices for complying with federal immigration laws and policies, as well strategies for avoiding audits and fines related to employment matters.

Before stepping down as a federal investigator, Irwin managed the Joint Terrorism Task Force and anti-smuggling operations for an 18-state region from Canada to Mexico. He also led an investigation that resulted in the largest human-smuggling case ever prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney General. Another investigation led to the largest criminal fine imposed for immigration law violations against an employer.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Irwin played a key role in implementing policy changes and department reorganizations. At Yarbrough Strategic Advisors, the consulting arm of the Yarbrough Law Group, Irwin supervises investigations involving intellectual property, financial fraud and corporate compliance, among other things.

These can be troubling times indeed for employers trying to keep up with rapidly changing laws and policies. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security began enforcing an E-verify program that requires federal contractors to electronically verify the immigration status of workers. The program is designed to identify workers who are in the U.S. illegally and using fake identities in order to work. "A.J.'s unmatched base of knowledge of investigations and practices within the Department of Justice provides a huge benefit to our clients," says attorney Matt Yarbrough, founder of Yarbrough Strategic Advisors. "With A.J. and others on our team, we are able to offer invaluable expertise to employers who want to stay on top of the important changes in immigration law."