Over 100 Illegal Immigrants employed by Denver businesses leads to over $8 Million in fines

Denver Businesses Hit with Over $8 Million in Fines for Hiring Unauthorized Workers

DENVER, CO — Three Denver-based businesses face hefty penalties totaling more than $8 million after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uncovered widespread violations involving the employment of unauthorized workers. The fines, announced on April 27, 2025, follow worksite audits that revealed significant breaches of federal employment laws, marking one of the largest such penalties in the U.S. since the start of the current administration.

The businesses—CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and Green Management Denver—were cited for knowingly hiring and employing a combined total of 143 unauthorized workers. According to ICE, the audits focused on Form I-9 compliance, a federal requirement for verifying employee eligibility to work in the United States. The violations were uncovered through investigations conducted by ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, which targets businesses flouting employment regulations.

CCS Denver, Inc., a janitorial and facility maintenance company, received the largest fine of $6,186,171. ICE reported a 100% substantive violation rate, with evidence that the company knowingly employed at least 87 unauthorized workers. PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., another cleaning service provider, was fined $1,599,510 for a 74% violation rate and employing at least 12 unauthorized workers. Green Management Denver faced a $270,195 penalty after audits identified 44 unauthorized employees and a 100% violation rate.

“The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage,” said Steve Cagen, Special Agent in Charge for ICE’s Denver office, in a statement. “These penalties reinforce our commitment to uphold the law and promote a culture of compliance.”

The fines stem from ICE’s broader worksite enforcement strategy, initiated in 2009, which aims to curb illegal employment practices through I-9 audits, civil penalties, and, where applicable, criminal prosecutions. Federal law, under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a, prohibits employers from knowingly hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized workers, with penalties escalating based on the severity and frequency of violations.

Questions linger about the businesses’ affiliations, as CCS Denver and PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems share an address at 1900 W. Littleton Blvd., the corporate office of CCS Facility Services, a major commercial cleaning firm operating in 10 states. Green Management Denver is registered at 1485 South Lipan St., another location linked to CCS Facility Services. It remains unclear whether these entities are distinct or operate under the same corporate umbrella.

Colorado’s history of loosening employment verification requirements, including a 2016 law eliminating state-level worker status checks and a 2021 repeal of lawful presence requirements for professional licenses, may have contributed to the violations.

ICE’s actions reflect a broader push under the current administration to crack down on illegal employment practices, with similar fines levied in other states, such as $450,000 against three Ontario businesses in Canada for related violations. In Denver, the fines underscore the tension between economic demands for labor and federal immigration enforcement, leaving businesses to navigate a complex regulatory landscape.

17GEN4.com