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Local Business

Over 1,200 janitors fired in state's immigration audit

11/10/2009 8:10:01 AM

Comments (5)

By Amy Forliti

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS -- Roughly 1,250 Twin Cities janitors with suspect employment documents were fired from their jobs in October as their company carried out an audit prompted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, an immigration attorney said Monday.

The janitors worked for ABM Industries Inc., a New York-based company that provides janitorial services nationwide.

John Keller, executive director of the nonprofit Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said the firings happened in phases over the month of October. He said he first learned of the audit in early June, when his office received a call from the workers' union.

ABM had sent employees letters that said ICE was requiring workers to show additional documents proving they had legal status to work in the U.S., Keller said.

"Federal law prescribes specific procedures by which employers conduct employment verification activities. Our policy is full compliance with the law," Tony Mitchell, ABM Industries Vice President of Corporate Communications, said in a statement.

A copy of ABM's letter to employees was posted Monday on the Web site of Minnesota Public Radio News, which first reported the firings. The letter said, "ICE has informed ABM that the documentation you previously provided to confirm your employment authorization in the United States does not satisfy the I-9 Form employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act."

The letter directed employees to bring in additional documents. The deadline was extended multiple times to give workers more time to provide the proper paperwork -- with the final deadline in October.

"We don't really know what initiated the investigation," Keller said. "It sounds like it began under the previous administration in 2007."

The Obama administration has conducted similar audits on businesses. Immigration officials sent notices to more than 600 businesses in July of plans to audit their I-9 forms, which document employment eligibility. The businesses weren't identified.

In the Twin Cities audit, Keller said, the vast majority of the 1,250 fired workers turned out to be undocumented. Keller said to his knowledge, no one was arrested or deported.

Tim Counts, an ICE spokesman in Minnesota, said the agency doesn't discuss ongoing enforcement activity.

Keller said he hadn't seen an audit of this scope before.

"It's usually a very limited review of a much, much smaller number of people," he said.

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There are 5 comments - Display All Comments

Atilla
Rochester, Mn

Posted on 11/10/2009 at 10:11:53 AM

Do you mean ILLEGAL immigration audit?

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len9807
mantorville, mn

Posted on 11/10/2009 at 10:17:34 AM

In the Twin Cities audit, Keller said, the vast majority of the 1,250 fired workers turned out to be undocumented. Keller said to his knowledge, no one was arrested or deported.
--
No businesses fined, no illegal immigrants deported. Strong work.

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anonymous
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/10/2009 at 10:03:33 PM

at least there will be jobs for 1200 other illegals. or the same people just steal another identity and continue working.

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Othelmo__
Rochester, MN

Posted on 11/10/2009 at 10:14:20 PM

Comment Removed.

Editor's Note:

Please keep comments civil.

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belugajed
i
castle rock, co

Posted on 11/11/2009 at 6:11:00 AM

This new program is creating de facto legalization. The administration is turning a blind eye to the law and allowing these illegal aliens to continue to stay. The illegals will need to support themselves so they will only go out to seek other employment. This article is evident of that. The United States does not need ‘comprehensive immigration reform’. Just what is comprehensive immigration reform? Nothing but a white wash from a bunch of liberal do gooders. And I consider myself a liberal btw. There are already laws and technology in existence to control the border and the interior with regards to immigration control. The government has the authority to conduct worksite enforcement actions, place people in removal procedings, charge employers with criminal activity, require work permits or evidence of permission to work of non-citizens, require use of e-verify, use state and local police as a force multiplier by giving them 287g authority, and a whole host of other means to improve enforcement. However, administration after administration has been unwilling to enforce those laws and allow those actions that DHS can utilize to decrease illegal immigration and eliminate the need to give law breakers a pass. It is evident what this administration is setting to do. Stopping worksite enforcement, not detaining non-criminal aliens (just because they havent been convicted doesnt mean they’re not breaking the law and therefore are still criminals) not supporting e-verify to the max, not prosecuting employers but settling cases as they recently did out of court for $1.5m (something they condemned the prior administration for doing). They’re giving amnesty long before the bill is even before congress. The American people - and most specifically those who are legally entitled to work but who are unemployed and losing their homes because of it....while illegal aliens continue to take jobs at substandard wages which undercut society’s ability to support itself with a living wage. The direction we’re headed in will only result in another amnesty in 20-25 years for 30,000,000 more illegal aliens. The American public should oppose the actions of the current administration and insist that those laws that already exist should be enforced across the board. Write your congressman and senators to oppose failure of DHS to enforce laws that already exist and let them know that legalization/amnesty/temporary work visas should not be allowed for law breakers.

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