As the U.S. dollar swoons in value against major foreign currencies, the price of gold rises to historic heights. Long-term U.S. interest rates dip and short-term rates hover near zero. At the same time, U.S. corporate profits and cash accumulations ascend to their highest levels in 40 years. All of these conditions foretell a sharp upswing in merger and acquisition activity. Bargains are there for the taking. Indeed, a new M&A rush to acquire has already begun, with the value in acquisition activity increasing by 8.7 percent for the first six months of 2010 over the previous half year.1
Against this backdrop, the Obama administration, through the Department of Homeland Security, continues its drive to increase worksite enforcement of the immigration laws. Employers remain in the cross hairs of a DHS unit known, chillingly, as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).2 Meantime, Congress stalemates over comprehensive immigration reform, and the public perceives (and available data confirm) that the employment of unauthorized workers remains rampant across the country.3
