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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    ICE visits 30 Chipotle restaurants in criminal investigation

    ICE visits 30 Chipotle restaurants in ongoing criminal investigation

    By Howard Pankratz
    The Denver Post
    Posted: 05/04/2011 11:44:54 AM MDT Updated: 05/04/2011 12:18:10 PM MDT

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents visited approximately 30 Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants on Tuesday in an ongoing criminal investigation into the hiring practices of the Denver-based firm, according to Robert Luskin, the Washington-based lawyer representing the company.

    Luskin said the restaurants were located around the United States with no primary geographical focus. Restaurants were visited in Georgia, California, the District of Columbia, Minnesota, among other locations, he said.

    "They spoke to employees and managers and in some cases served subpoenas," said Luskin, a lawyer for the Patton Boggs law firm.

    Cori Bassett, ICE spokeswoman, in Washington, D.C., said that as a matter of policy, ICE doesn't comment on ongoing investigations.

    She added, however, that "ICE's comprehensive worksite enforcement strategy targets criminal aliens and employers who cultivate workplaces by breaking the country's laws and knowingly hiring illegal workers.

    "ICE uses all available criminal and civil tools at its disposal, including civil fines and debarment to penalize employers who knowingly break the law and deter others from doing so," Bassett said.

    Bill Miller, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, declined comment.

    Luskin said Chipotle was informed Monday by the government that agents would be visiting the restaurants on Tuesday.

    "They assured us Monday they would do their best not to disrupt" restaurant operations, Luskin added. "It was not in any sense a blitz. It was an effort to collect information which we are willing to provide."

    Luskin added that "the government is asking legitimate questions" and Chipotle will provide the answers.

    "The company is very confident that it will end positively," said Luskin.

    Last month, Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran acknowledged that the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C. requested documents and was working with ICE in the joint investigation.

    Luskin today characterized the investigation as criminal in nature and said it centers around Chipotle's hiring practices and immigration issues.

    The U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia is "looking into any criminal conduct with regard to the company's hiring practices," he said.

    "Let me hasten to add they have assured us they have not come to any conclusions whether there has been any criminal conduct," said Luskin.

    Luskin said Chipotle is cooperating with the government.

    He said he believes that an average of two employees were interviewed at each store.

    He said that both Chipotle and the government have expressed the desire that the investigation be completed as quickly as possible.

    Luskin stressed that he did not believe that the Denver-based chain is being singled out by prosecutors and ICE.

    In March, Chipotle received "notices of inspection" from ICE for employees in Virginia and Washington, D.C., after receiving them in Minnesota last year.

    The notices require employers to submit employers to submit copies of I-9 employment eligibility forms, along with other payroll documents.

    If the documents are falsified, such as using another person's Social Security number, employers are given a warning and must dismiss the workers involved.

    In February, Chipotle began introducing the E-Verify system to all of its 1,100 U.S. restaurants - a process that was completed in March.

    E-Verify, a government database, matches the names of people seeking work with Chipotle with the Social Security numbers they provide to make sure they can work in the United States.

    Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.

    http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_17991062
    NO AMNESTY

    Don't reward the criminal actions of millions of illegal aliens by giving them citizenship.


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  2. #2
    Senior Member moptop's Avatar
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    Looks like chipotle pissed off ice wish they'd get all the resturant industry and then move in to other company's hiring practices

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