With the problem of illegal immigration on their minds, several local business leaders are seeking help from immigration officials to keep their businesses in line.

Officials say it can be very challenging for employers to spot fraudulent documents. So local employers and the Chamber of Commerce are working together to ensure businesses stay in compliance with federal law.

It's an increasing struggle for employers nationwide to make sure that all of their employees can legally work.

"This is just something that we're always hearing a lot about," says Melody Ritchie, who works with Lantz Construction Company. "I'm the director of H.R., so it's something that, in our profession, we're always very aware of."

Ritchie represents one of several businesses eager to learn more about how they can check the legal status of their workers.

"It's a major issue nationally, and it's an issue locally," says James Berg, president of the Harrisonburg/Rockingham Chamber of Commerce. "We want to make sure people who are employable are employed. And that employers are doing it in a manner which is appropriate."

Immigration officials introduced managers to E-Verify, an online tool that allows employers to electronically verify the legal status of a new employee. To learn more about this system, see the link below this story.

"The system does ensure that you have a legal workforce, which is definitely a growing concern in this area," says Aaron Rader, an analyst with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The federal government estimates more than 12 million people are in the country illegally.

"We want employers to be able to self inspect," says Keith Williams, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Immigration officials also concede that can be quite challenging. At a presentation Tuesday, they gave tips and hand-outs to employers to help them spot phony documents. Business leaders admit it's a struggle they'll face for quite a while.

"We're the construction industry, so we have a diverse group of individuals that work with us, and we certainly want to stay in compliance," says Ritchie. "And we know we're an industry where a lot of different nationalities come in to look for employment."