Remote workers may now be visible to security operations, as a new rule from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires that companies let the agency know if they have employees working remotely.
The new rule requires companies to keep track of their remote workers and report any changes to their employment status to DHS, which is responsible for maintaining the country’s immigration system.
The rule is intended to help DHS prevent fraud and abuse in the immigration system by ensuring that employers are not hiring illegal immigrants or other workers who pose a threat to national security or public safety.
The new rule affects both businesses and universities, since schools often hire students or other employees who work remotely for them or for another company and then need to place those workers into jobs on campus.