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Sources: Wal-Mart Knew of Illegal Workers
abc ^ | 10-24-03

Posted on 10/24/2003 10:25:17 AM PDT by wheelgunguru

Wal-Mart Knew of Immigration Violations Involving Its Cleaning Contractors, Sources Say

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Oct. 24 — Wal-Mart had direct knowledge of immigration violations involving its cleaning contractors at stores across the country, federal law enforcement sources said. Federal agents raided Wal-Mart's headquarters and 60 of its stores across the nation Thursday, arresting more than 300 illegal workers in an immigration crackdown at the world's biggest retailer.

The workers were members of cleaning crews hired by outside contractors, but federal law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Wal-Mart knew of the violations. They cited recordings of meetings and conversations among Wal-Mart executives, managers and contractors.

"We have seen no evidence of this from the INS, and, if that turns out to be true, we will cooperate fully with law enforcement officials," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said.

The workers were arrested as they finished their night shifts at Wal-Mart stores in 21 states. Agents also hauled away several boxes of documents from an executive's office at Wal-Mart headquarters in Bentonville.

An employer can face civil and criminal penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants or failing to comply with certain employee recordkeeping regulations.

Wal-Mart Stores had sales last year of $244.5 billion. The company has about 1.1 million employees in the United States, and it uses more than 100 third-party contractors to clean more than 700 stores nationwide, Williams said.

"We require each of these contractors to use only legal workers," she said.

The law enforcement sources said the investigation grew out of earlier probes of Wal-Mart cleaning crew contractors in 1998 and 2001.

All the arrested workers were in the country illegally, said Garrison Courtney, a spokesman with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They were detained at local immigration offices. Those who had no criminal record were released with instructions to appear before immigration judges.

Wal-Mart is not the first big company to be targeted in an immigration investigation. Six managers at Tyson Foods, based one town away from Wal-Mart in Springdale, were charged in an immigrant-smuggling case in 2001.

One defendant shot himself to death a few months after being charged, and two managers entered guilty pleas early in the case. A jury acquitted the poultry company and three other managers.

Ulysses A. Yannas, an analyst with the investment firm Buckman, Buckman and Reid, said it is too much to expect Wal-Mart to keep track of all of its vendors' workers. But he said the investigation could present a problem for the company.

"It is a question of what else it might bring out. These are long, drawn-out processes," Yannas said.

Top Wal-Mart officials learned of Thursday's sweep when store managers began calling headquarters for guidance in dealing with the raids.

Courtney said agents searched the office of one of Wal-Mart's executives. Williams, the spokeswoman, said they spent several hours in the office of a "mid-level manager" at Wal-Mart's headquarters and carried away several boxes of paperwork.

She said she did not know if any other Wal-Mart administrative offices were searched.

The arrests were made at stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: Alabama; US: Arizona; US: Arkansas; US: Connecticut; US: Delaware; US: Kentucky; US: Maryland; US: Massachusetts; US: Michigan; US: New Hampshire; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: North Carolina; US: Ohio; US: Oklahoma; US: Pennsylvania; US: South Carolina; US: Tennessee; US: Texas; US: Virginia; US: West Virginia
KEYWORDS: illegals; immigrantlist; walmart
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1 posted on 10/24/2003 10:25:17 AM PDT by wheelgunguru
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To: *immigrant_list; A Navy Vet; Lion Den Dan; Free the USA; Libertarianize the GOP; madfly; B4Ranch; ..
ping
2 posted on 10/24/2003 10:39:56 AM PDT by gubamyster
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To: wheelgunguru
What I don't understand is why it is that, with illegals in California, Texas, Arizona, etc. not only taking over states but demanding to be taught in their own language in our public schools and demanding a major voice in our politics and policies, why we are suddenly so intent on catching up with a few Eastern Europeans and Asians.
3 posted on 10/24/2003 10:42:28 AM PDT by onevoter
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To: wheelgunguru
Walmart says they didn't "know"
Just like they don't "know" about slave labor in the Chinese factories that make their products.
4 posted on 10/24/2003 10:52:57 AM PDT by WackyKat
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To: wheelgunguru
but federal law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said Wal-Mart knew of the violations

This irks me. Why would a law enforcement official who is in a position to know need a condition of anonymity? I have no idea what WalMart knew and what they didn't, but I'm certainly not going to make up my mind based on a non-source. For all I know, the AP called some federal marshall in Anchorage and asked his opinion.

5 posted on 10/24/2003 10:58:12 AM PDT by Mr. Bird
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To: onevoter
Maybe it is because the Eastern Europeans don't consititute a large enough block of voters.
6 posted on 10/24/2003 10:58:54 AM PDT by HiJinx (Go with courage, go with honor, go in God's good Grace. Come home when it's time. We'll be here.)
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To: wheelgunguru
Wal-Mart Knew of Illegal Workers

Could it have been a clue that they turned up for work on the first day wearing wet burlap sacks stamped "Hecho en Mexico"?

7 posted on 10/24/2003 11:01:43 AM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: wheelgunguru
The US Army has (or is debating) policies concerning offering citizenship to "illegals" after their terms of service...Apparently, they knowingly employ illegals, too.
8 posted on 10/24/2003 11:04:52 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: wheelgunguru
"We require each of these contractors to use only legal workers," she (Williams) said.

Unfortunately, Wal-Mart doesn't verify that each of these contractors uses only legal workers.

9 posted on 10/24/2003 11:09:31 AM PDT by usadave
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To: wheelgunguru
It's illegal to ask an illegal immigrant if he is illegal, but it is also illegal to hire an illegal immigrant.

A perfect situation for selective enforcement of the law against a target approved by the PC crowd.
10 posted on 10/24/2003 11:12:35 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Drug prohibition laws help fund terrorism.)
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To: HiJinx
"Maybe it is because the Eastern Europeans don't consititute a large enough block of voters."

And/or they've been shown to vote only third party...

11 posted on 10/24/2003 11:13:31 AM PDT by Paulie
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To: wheelgunguru; no one in particular
Does anyone else think this mught be the first baby step towards controlling the border?

Kicking the legs out from under the illegal alien job market removes the incentive to sneak across the border.

At this point pretty much every potential employer has learned that there is a $10,000 fine, and that the feds are willing to take down far bigger companies than them...
12 posted on 10/24/2003 11:16:09 AM PDT by null and void
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
It's illegal to ask an illegal immigrant if he is illegal, but it is also illegal to hire an illegal immigrant.

Can you say that 5 times fast?...I can!...Try "Toy Boat".

Must be FRieday...sorry.

FMCDH

13 posted on 10/24/2003 11:27:20 AM PDT by nothingnew (The pendulum is swinging and the Rats are in the pit!)
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To: null and void
Which border are you referring to? All of the articles say that these workers were Eastern Europeans.
14 posted on 10/24/2003 11:33:12 AM PDT by eniapmot
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To: eniapmot
Gotta start somewhere.

Southern border 'immigrants' are a political third rail. The Government can't touch them without igniting a firestorm.

The Feds can poison the well for all illegals and let the individual employers do the dirty work...

15 posted on 10/24/2003 11:41:01 AM PDT by null and void
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To: eniapmot
Please dont confuse them with the facts.Dont you know they have a cause to protest.
16 posted on 10/24/2003 11:41:28 AM PDT by cksharks
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To: wheelgunguru; clamper1797; sarcasm; BrooklynGOP; A. Pole; Zorrito; GiovannaNicoletta; Caipirabob; ..
If they knew then send them to jail ping

On or off let me know
17 posted on 10/24/2003 11:41:42 AM PDT by harpseal (stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown)
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To: Mr. Bird
Maybe because they don't want to jeopardize any further investigation? Or trials?

Carolyn

18 posted on 10/24/2003 12:04:56 PM PDT by CDHart
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To: CDHart
There is nothing improper or risky in having a public official state something they believe to be true, especially in a matter such as this. If the lead investigator says "they knew", it means something to me as news. Anonymous sources don't cut it.
19 posted on 10/24/2003 12:10:27 PM PDT by Mr. Bird
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To: CDHart
In other words, if they won't attach their name to the assertion, how reliable is it?
20 posted on 10/24/2003 12:11:11 PM PDT by Mr. Bird
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