Immigration law is a broad legal field that deals with the movement of people in and out of the United States. Immigration law includes all ways to legally immigrate to the United States, how and when temporary workers will be allowed into the country, and even manages what temporary visitors may or may not do. 

When most people think of immigration law, however, they are usually referring to the subset of immigration law concerned with coming to live in the United States. This pathway from foreign national to U.S. citizen is a heavily legislated path and is only open to a select few who complete a rigorous set of requirements.

The short answer is no. There are numerous laws against hiring illegal immigrants or anyone without the proper work authorization documents. In an effort to curtail the hiring of illegal immigrants, these laws require that any employer obtain proof that an applicant can work in the United States.

The types of proof required vary from birth certificates, social security cards, or passports, to legal immigration documents such as a green card or work visa. Any place of employment that does hire illegal immigrants, whether by ignoring or failing to comply with regulations requiring proof of work authorization, faces legal consequences including fines or criminal charges.

There are three major forces that regulate and enforce immigration law: immigration courts, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Center for Immigration Services (USCIS). Together these forces oversee nearly all aspects of immigration law from the apprehension and deportation of illegal aliens, to the approval of lawful permanent residents and general naturalization requirements.

 ICE serves as the main enforcement arm of the U.S. immigration system. ICE is the primary force behind detainments, deportations, and voluntary removal supervision. The USCIS is the administrative force behind U.S. immigration law. The USCIS processes most immigration-related forms and documents and monitors the status of legal immigrants and temporary visitors to the United States. Finally, the immigration courts are special administrative courts designed to oversee the processes of asylum, deportation, and immigration appeals. It is strongly recommended that if you must appear before an immigration court, you should hire an immigration attorney.