If you can't show proper documentation, you're gone. Period.
It sounds like what they did is present the facts of the matter to the employees (one by one) and then said to them, that if they have documentation then they need to bring it in -- or else -- the company would pursue the matter further with the authorities.
BUT, if they left on their own, the company would drop any further "investigation" into their matter... LOL...
I'm betting they all left on their own... :-)
Reminds me of one of my all time favorite Reagan (or any) quotes. When some media @$$wipe asked him why he fired all the air traffic controllers, he responded "It's illegal for them to go on strike. They went on strike. Looks like they quit to me." I still chuckle at that one.
Close but not quite. Something very similar happened at my wifes place of employment. It came to Management's attention that certain 'identifying information' (read SS numbers) didn't match the names the employees gave.
The employees were given 30 days to 'clear this matter up' or their employment would be terminated due to Federal laws covering these issues.
Some of the employees in question did indeed clear things up. Most couldn't and voluntarily left rather than deal with the Feds.
However the employer had no choice but to do this. Federal law is quite clear. It's illegal to knowingly employ people who don't have proper documentation and companies face large fines for doing so.
Target is completely in the right here.
Not meant as a criticism of your post, just wanted to be clear.
Best,
L