(afagen)
Following an audit of employees’ legal statuses, Chipotle fired between 350 and 700 undocumented employees at its Minnesota restaurants.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports protesters accused Chipotle of canning the workers without giving them adequate time to prove they were here legally, while making them wait too long for the pay that was due. Chipotle responded that each worker was given a chance to show documentation, and all dismissed employees were paid “promptly.” Chipotle also said that employees who claimed they were legal residents were given more time to produce papers.
Chipotle identified targets to interrogate based on a list from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
What do you think is the most effective way to regulate the employment of illegal residents?
Chipotle fires hundreds, draws protest [Minneapolis Star Tribune]
(Thanks, Gary!)
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Now if only all companies would follow the example of this company our country would be alot better off!
ILLEGAL immigration is NOT just about Mexicans. I’ve worked with people who admitted to being and working here illegally from countries like England, Canada and Peru to name a few. Had suspicions about alot of others. I knew people from South America including Guyana that would NOT give me a straight answer about their immigration status past or present. Had dealings with an Irishman who was basically being deported, he wanted me to ‘hurry up’ on my end.
Sure, the government can stop the hiring of undocumented aliens. Just like it has successfully killed off drugs, prostitution and downloading copyrighted movies off BitTorrent.
Larger companies like Chipotle have enough lawyers on retainer to appeal and negoiate any fines into the next century. Even if the government was able to go after every mom-and-pop business that employed undocumenteds, the inability to pay the fines would rival the RIAA Nazi judgements of $500,000 against people with a $25,000 annual income (not worth it).
The government should redirect its efforts at focusing on the drug cartels and human trafficing “coyotes” – the two mass murder businesses on the verge of overflowing into border states and beyond.
To dissolve the human trafficing businesses, the US government should issue work visas to foreigners who pass a criminal background check – at a cost of about $5,000 per year.
If someone can come up with $15K to pay a “coyote” to smuggle them into the US at great personal risk during the trip plus a constant threat of deportation, a $5K charge would be the deal of the century: It would cover many of the “welfare”-type costs currently absorbed by taxpayers and cut human trafficing out of the mix making a “coyote” obsolete.
I hope that this is a sign that American companies have decided to follow the letter of the law and quit hiring illegal immigrants. If we did not make it profitable for them to come here, then half of the problem would be solved. Their sending a lot of money back to Mexico that helps the drug cartels as the cartels make the families pay a fee and the mules( expeditors) that keep the Mexican and illegal immigrants families broke by charging them a tariff on staying here in the United States.. No money! no jobs, then the outlook of coming here will deteriorate to a point that they will stay in their own country, Or try to immigrate legally.
The poor and uneducated have a difficult (if not impossible time) coming to the US legally. They would just about have to marry a legal resident or be lucky enough to have relatives here to sponsor their Green Cards. It takes a pretty desperate person to be willing to go illegally into a country and work, knowing you could be deported at any time or taken advantage of by people, yet you can’t report it.
Much of Latin America (as well as Canada, India and China) aren’t even eligible for the annual Green Card lottery.
Again, not condoning them coming here…just reiterating that it’s not as easy as telling them to “come here legally”.
In regards to the argument that illegal immigrants will work in jobs that nobody else wants – one reason an employer would hire an illegal immigrant is because then the employer can pay less than minimum wage. If the employer hires a legal resident and tries to pay him/her below minimum wage, the employer runs the risk of getting caught (because the employee may report the employer).
Obviously, I’m not saying the employer then has good reason to hire illegals. I’m saying that the employer is taking a risk by hiring illegals (either intentionally or unintentionally) to save some money, knowing full well that it is against the law to do so. It is the responsibility of the employer to make sure employees can work in the US legally. I see nothing wrong with what Chipotle did.
I do wonder, though – according to the article, Chipotle asked ICE if they would allow a 90-day period for the employees to produce documents (and ICE said absolutely not). How long does it take to dig up your passport or birth certificate? A day? A week? Do you house them in a different state or country? Why did the article bother quoting some lady who claims she wasn’t given the chance to show her driver’s license, when the DL isn’t proof of citizenship/residency?
Also, if a worker can produce proof that he/she can work in the U.S. legally, could they request for their job back?
While I’m sure most of the excuses are BS, a driver’s license is proof of identity. If you produce a US birth certificate (proof of eligibility for employment) and a driver’s license — one of the options for the I-9, you are good to go. You would need to have both of those to qualify (a Passport or Green Card or EAD generally serves for both identity & eligibility).
I don’t think that regulating the employers will do anything. Many undocumented workers find jobs with an off the books employer where oversight is difficult. The best way to regulate is to secure the freaking borders.
If Chipolte had checked their status BEFORE hiring them, it would be a non-issue.
The most effective way to regulate the employment of illegals is to fine an employer of illegals not less than ten times the total compensation given to the illegal in question over the period of employment. This will make it very expensive to employ illegals.
Chipotle is following the law. Iam an emigrant myself and dreamed for many years to emigrate to US – never crossed my mind to come here by breaking the law and all the citizens and legal residents of this land should strictely obey the laws.
There are several easy ways for an undocumented worker to get around the system.
The Government requires either a Social Security Number or work visa (“Green Card”) number plus one or more documents (drivers’ license, birth certificate, passport, etc.) as proof of eligibility to legally work in the US.
Through the magic of ID Theft, it’s possible for a “coyote” to provide what appears to be a legitimate SSN. If it’s a number that was issued to a legal US resident, it’s unlikely to be caught until if or when the IRS flags it as part of a tax audit – usually when an unsuspecting victim discovers he/she has wages in two cities from two employers for the same dates.
Another option is to stand in front of Home Depot. This isn’t a racially charged comment; it’s fact in Houston and other large cities. Contractors, warehouses, etc. send out vans and pickup trucks for workers daily. $10/hour cash, no questions asked.
I say three cheers for Chipotle for being one of the few employers who give a darn about obeying employment and immigration laws. The reason illegal aliens, aka “undocumented workers” are able to get away with being in the country illegally is because employers are willing to look the other way.
I also approve of Chipotle’s policy of giving those who claim to be legal resident aliens more time to produce paperwork.
In addition to finding and prosecuting and deporting illegal aliens, we need to drop the hammer hard on employers who do not do due diligence to ensure their employees are legally able to work for them.
Then maybe they should stay in their own country and vote and help make their own country a good place to work/good jobs/good education , etc. Why mess up another country??
So, when someone actually fires illegal workers they get protested? But, if they didn’t fire said workers they would still get protested?
America, f*^@ yeah!
Sounds like this isn’t an issue. If a company hires someone illegal the company should be held responsible and fined.
So, not only did the illegal work and I assume NOT pay taxes, they sent non taxed/non-claimed income dollars out of the country. Instead of the cash going the Caymans or Switzerland it goes to Mexico…..hmmm.
So, now they are bitching about vacation pay? back Pay?
So, now also they get free healthcare at the same hospital that I go to except I must pay my $1500 deductible and all the co pays, plus taxes out of my check to help pay for all of this…hmmm. Bounce them all out.