Thread: Work on project stalled for probe of illegal immigrant compl

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Work on project stalled for probe of illegal immigrant complaint


NORWICH, N.Y. There's no word on when construction will resume at a central New York Wal-Mart store.

Work on the project in the Chenango County town of Norwich was ordered stopped early last week after an allegation that at least two illegal immigrants were employed there.

Wal-Mart spokesman Philip Serghini says construction on the store started last June.

Serghini today said Wal-Mart wants "to be sure everyone is verified" before work gets underway again. He said the situation is still being reviewed with the project's general contractor.

A former worker complained to Wal-Mart about three weeks ago that two workers had said they weren't in the U-S legally.

The store is scheduled to open this spring. Serghini said the work stoppage should have "no overall effect" on the target date for opening.

(Bob Joseph, WNBF, Binghamton)

If more American workers would report known illegals, it would be become such a major headache to employ them, that they would stop the practice. I was in a Pizza Hut a couple months ago and overheard the manager interviewing a prospective employee. I came in mid-interview, but heard enough of the conversation to know what was going on. The prospective employee, was a young, hispanic girl. Near the end of the interview, the manager asked the girl to return in two days and bring her social security card and green card. The young girl sat there stunned for a few moments, then said softly, "I don't have a green card". The manger said, that's OK, come in anyway. I called DHS that afternoon and reported what I had seen and heard. They asked for the business name, address and phone number, but never asked who I was (you can remain anonimous if you like). They did ask if I had ever reported before, which I thought was odd and made me think that they may not give as much creedence to repeat reporters. I went back to the same Pizza Hut, two weeks later and there was a new manager and no hispanic employees. I don't know if my report had anything to do with it, but it appeared so.