CA - Del Paso Country Club drops undocumented workers after ICE audit

By Stephen Magagnini
Published: Friday, Aug. 31, 2012 - 4:14 pm
The Sacramento Bee

The Del Paso Country Club -- the exclusive playground of Sacramento's elite for nearly a century -- has terminated 13 undocumented employees identified by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The invitation-only club at 3333 Marconi Ave., featuring a championship golf course, fitness center, pools and dining room, had been audited by ICE, said General Manager Bob Kunz.

The terminated undocumented workers represented "a broad range across the club," Kunz said, including food and beverage workers, groundskeepers and employees working at the fitness center and the administrative offices.

Kunz said only 13 of 110 workers audited couldn't provide legal documents. They "either chose to leave or were terminated," Kunz said, adding that ICE didn't levy any penalties against the 150-acre club that has hosted national golf tournaments since it opened in 1916.

The club was originally part of the 44,000-acre Rancho Del Paso, established under Mexican rule in 1844. In 1859, James Ben Ali Haggin and Lloyd Tevis, who transformed it from a cattle ranch and farm into a breeding ground for thoroughbreds, including 1886 Kentucky Derby winner "Ben Ali."

Through June 2012, ICE has initiated 2,196 nationwide inspections of worker eligibility forms known as I-9s in fiscal year 2012, said spokeswoman Virginia Kice. "Since the 1980s, all employers are required to keep I-9s for their workers."

The ICE audits are triggered by tips from the general public, other employers, ex-employees or law enforcement agents, Kice said, adding that unless ICE can prove the employers had prior knowledge they were hiring undocumented workers, no enforcement action is taken.

"Our ping pong ball came up," said Kunz, who gave no details about those terminated. "We've wrapped up the matter and we're moving forward."

Del Paso Country Club drops undocumented workers after ICE audit - Our Region - The Sacramento Bee

"The terminated undocumented workers represented "a broad range across the club," Kunz said, including food and beverage workers, groundskeepers and employees working at the fitness center and the administrative offices."

And people still think illegals are only doing jobs Americans won't do.

Makes me nervous when I see illegals who have had no health check working with our food. Wonder if the employers make them go through a health check?????

And here I thought they were all here to pick our fruits and vegetables.

"Our ping-pong ball came up," says Kruz, the manager. Sounds as if he was aware of it but milkingkthe situaion as long as possible. I have to ask, how many large politcal contributor belong to this club, who is on the Board of Directors?