Illegal Alien Workers Detained at Pineville Olive Garden

March 21st, 2008
Carolina Politics Online

Nine workers were escorted out of the Olive Garden restaurant in Pineville Thursday afternoon and loaded into a van after being arrested on illegal immigration violations.

Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement converged on the Italian restaurant about 4:30 p.m. after getting information that unauthorized workers might be inside, said Richard Rocha, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington, D.C.

The arrests took place during the beginning of rush hour as the restaurant’s dinner crew was clocking in.

Investigators would not release the names or charges against the workers who are from Indonesia, Mexico and Guatamala.

Charlotte Observer

Darden Restaurants is going to have quite a bit to explain here. You generally don’t hear about large chains engaging in employing illegals. It’s usually the small businesses. You have to wonder if this is just an isolated incident or if this is an “authorizedâ€