Six Degrees of Insight - Session 5/6 - June 4, 2026

Six Degrees of Insight - Session 5/6 - June 4, 2026

Join us for Six Degrees of Insight - a webinar series brought to you by six local SHRM chapters.

Join us on Thursday, June 2, 2026 with "When ICE Comes Knocking: Preparing and Responding to Immigration Enforcement Activities," presented by Michael Karst.

Session Description: Human resource professionals are increasingly on the front lines when immigration enforcement intersects with the workplace. This practical session provides clear, step-by-step guidance to help HR teams prepare for, respond to, and manage Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity while maintaining compliance with employment and anti-discrimination laws.

Attendees will learn how to build and operationalize an ICE-raid response plan tailored to their worksites, including chain-of-command protocols, document preservation, and escalation procedures. The program demystifies warrants by explaining the difference between administrative and judicial search warrants and how that distinction affects consent to entry, scope of access, records production, and on-site movement. The session also addresses day-to-day compliance practices that reduce risk before an enforcement event occurs, including lawful hiring and reverification processes for foreign workers, I-9 and E-Verify governance, and anti-retaliation/anti-discrimination safeguards.

By the end of this session, HR professionals will be able to:

Identify the importance and core components of an ICE-raid response plan, including roles, communications, and documentation workflows.

Distinguish between administrative and judicial search warrants and apply appropriate response protocols for each.

Implement best practices for hiring and maintaining employment of foreign workers, with defensible I-9 procedures, consistent reverification, and compliant recordkeeping.

This program emphasizes actionable checklists and sample protocols that participants can adapt to their organizations to manage enforcement encounters confidently, minimize disruption, and support legal compliance across the employment lifecycle.

Speaker Bio: Michael devotes his practice to litigating claims on behalf of employers involved in termination, wage/hour, and labor disputes. He also advises clients on a wide variety of day-to-day workplace concerns, including leave management, accommodations, and payroll practices. In addition, Michael helps employers navigate U.S. immigration laws and secure work visas and permanent resident status (“green cards”) for their employees.

Michael routinely defends claims involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and comparable state laws. Michael takes a practical approach to litigation that considers the most efficient method to resolving claims either through resolution or early motions to dismiss. When matters do not resolve, Michael is an accomplished trial attorney who feels comfortable taking a case to verdict.

Prior to joining KWW, Michael worked at a local labor-side law firm where he gained insight on how employers can avoid disputes before they occur. Michael’s experience also provides him with practical knowledge on how and when to negotiate with employees and their attorneys.

Michael prides himself on the personal attention given to each client. He strives to return phone calls and emails promptly and ensures that he keeps clients up to date on the status of their matters. Michael also understands that workplace questions can arise at any time. For that reason, Michael is happy to schedule phone calls and meetings outside normal business hours to ensure that all client needs are met.