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Washington - Federal officials notified more than 650 U.S. businesses their records would be audited as part of an effort to weed out companies hiring illegal immigrants.

The 652 notices issued represented the largest number ever in a single day, exceeding the total sent out in all of fiscal year 2008, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said.

"Part of the strategy is to let businesses know we mean business," ICE spokeswoman Pat Reilly said.

President Barack Obama's administration has made tougher enforcement against employers a key plank of its immigration policy. In April, immigration agents received new guidelines instructing them to focus on employers who hire illegal immigrants instead of only arresting workers, the Times reported Thursday. The government also is working to improve and expand an employment verification program.

Government officials said immigration agents would review I-9 forms and identification documents at the targeted companies, which could be fined if significant numbers of undocumented workers were discovered.

If agents believe the businesses knowingly hired illegal immigrants or find "a pattern of egregious violations," criminal investigations could be initiated, Reilly said.

The immigration agency also notified another 80 companies they would be fined because they employ a considerable number of workers who may not be authorized to work in the United States, she said.