Why did my father have to have Homeland Security Clearance and I9 forms for oil field work?

My father just called and said he was upset because the government is requiring him to fill out Department of Homeland Security forms and I-9 forms in order to continue his work in the oil field industry. He said if he didn't comply, he was going to be terminated.

My father has worked in the oil field industry for over 35 years. He lives in Texas and is known as a tool fisher, meaning if a rig has lost tools in the hole, he develops a plan/tools to retrieve the very expensive tools. He is currently working in North Dakota and has been working in North Dakota for over a year.

He said his entire company's team of employees has also been required to complete these forms and clearances. Any idea as to why this would be happening to our oil field workers? He asked his company why this was and he was not given a reason.

He read me some of the questions DHS asks on the forms (pages of questions) and it seemed extremely invasive of his privacy.

a reply to: quirkygirl

The answer is quite obvious.

They do not want someone who might try to blow up the facilities they are working at, oil is considered an item of national security. They also might want to see if the person they are considering hiring is likely to be a whistleblower.

Also the questions that are asked for a security can be invasive to one's privacy.

a reply to: quirkygirl

Because oil and gas pipelines are considered key national infrastructure?

www.dhs.gov...

a reply to: jrod

He's been with this company for years. All the employees had to do this. I don't see anything obvious about this, sorry. Why now, all of a sudden?

a reply to: quirkygirl

The company wants him to have a security clearance. While there is some invasion of privacy in the background checks, a security clearance is a valuable thing to have.

The I 9 is simply to verify employment authorization based on citizenship.

Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States.

It's not specific to oil field workers.

a reply to: quirkygirl

Isn't an I-9 form just an Employment Eligibility Verification Form? I thought all employees fill out an I-9 form. Not sure why he wasn't required to fill out the form when he was hired. It could be part of the reason the govt. is investigating the company.

Tax evasion?

Not sure about the security stuff....

a reply to: jrod

So after decades of working in the oil field he suddenly needs government security clearance? Why? It's crazy and I wouldn't like it either. I think he is right to be cautious and questioning why this is.

a reply to: quirkygirl

Remember what Saddam Hussein did to Iraq's oil fields?

Staffing services are doing it, too.

I am sorry to GUESS this but I would say to get rid of old thinkers that will not go along with new ideas,I think it,like all the progressive web strands of a socialist tactic, is a control measure over individuals. They ONLY seek correct thinking people to make such money.
As an aside as well, terrorism is their excuse to protect the infrastructure from patriots and right wing extremists.

a reply to: quirkygirl

The DHS did not exist when he started working for the oil company. They are probably requiring documentation and clearance for everyone today within the industry.

Could be a possible direct/credible threat to oil fields in general from some outside faction so DHS is running clearances on everyone currently working in the field. All it would take is one person that wasn't checked or happened to be converted in order to cause havoc on a line.

a reply to: quirkygirl

I don't know about the security clearance (though it's not too surprising, given the dangerous nature of working in the patch on a rig,) but if he hasn't filled out an I-9, he's not in compliance with Employment Eligibility requirements of the federal government.

Form I-9 is used for verifying the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must ensure proper completion of Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. (Source)

My guess would be that someone noticed that they did not have I-9s on file for their employees. Not a big deal to fill it out, we make new employees do so as part of the "first day orientation."

a reply to: adjensen

You used the term "patch", so I figure you must have some ties to the industry.

The I9 form was in addition to the other forms he filled out. He did comply because he's not willing to retire yet, but he's a very cautious man and doesn't trust the government. He's 63.

He said it just isn't sitting well with him, this sudden need for clearance and he wasn't at all thrilled answering and divulging all of is information to the government but like he said, it isn't anything they don't already know.

a reply to: quirkygirl

Well, what society voluntarily signs over its rights? Is there anything more private than turning over body fluids to strangers for testing? A few extra papers and security is nothing new. Anything, at any cost, to protect the oil and its owners. Homeland Security is our version of the Gestapo. Get use to it or revolt at the polls.

originally posted by: quirkygirl
a reply to: jrod

So after decades of working in the oil field he suddenly needs government security clearance? Why? It's crazy and I wouldn't like it either. I think he is right to be cautious and questioning why this is.

What don't you get about this? He fills out the stuff or he gets terminated. Period. End of story. You've already been told why. Why do you have to ask the same question again? Why do you think you are going to get some sort of answer satisfactory to you here on ATS? Do you read the news? What happens in Iraq and Libya quite frequently? Bad Guys (tm) blow up oil fields. They think it "hurts" the Guys in Power (tm), which it does. It also hurts the citizens of that country who may have to go without jobs, electricity, or what have you because of this sabotage.

Now, the DHS bureaucrats are quite inept and invasive. We know that already. And they have decided to "tighten up" oil field security. Why? Do we have to answer this again? Because maybe they have received threats. Maybe they have information that a "sleeper cell" is in place ready to strike. Maybe they think the Right Wing Extremists might copy their ISIS brothers' tactics. You DO remember Tim McVeigh, don't you?

So listen to the answer. If you don't like the answer, that's one thing, but to claim you still don;t understand "why" is disingenuous. You know very well why. So stop insulting everyone's intelligence by asking it over and over.

a reply to: schuyler

I wasn't insulting anyone's intelligence. I wasn't saying I didn't like the answer, but rather to get several different opinions. I'm not sure why you bothered posting something other than to insult me, which is ironic.

a reply to: quirkygirl


To insure he has no terrorist associations with questionable people and/or orgs, since he has access to oil materials, lines, loctions, offices, software etc...

Perfectly reasonable. And Im GLAD they check workers at places like this...you should be as well.

a reply to: quirkygirl

I think it's crazy he hasn't filled out an I-9 in 10 years...