Reno book firm workers must prove immigration status

Reno book firm workers must prove immigration status
By FRANK X. MULLEN JR. • fmullen@rgj.com • February 20, 2009

Today is the deadline for some employees of the Barnes & Noble distribution center in Reno to show federal authorities proof they are legal residents and eligible to work.



An audit by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement staff in Reno showed some employees at the warehouse didn't have the documentation on file required by the federal I-9 employment eligibility rules. Those employees were required to go to the ICE office by today to show further documentation that they are in the country legally.

Neither Barnes & Noble nor ICE officials would say how many employees are involved but about 50 attended a Wednesday night meeting with lawyers and said they had been fired.

Barnes & Noble executives said that's not the case.

"Those people have not been fired," said Mary Ellen Keating, senior vice president of corporate communications for the bookseller.

She said Thursday that some employees have provided the required documentation to ICE officials and are back at work but declined to say how many. She said the firm has provided legal assistance to employees and awaits word from federal immigration agents.

"Next week, we anticipate hearing the results from ICE," Keating said. "We're assuming they will come back to us with a list."

The employees unable to continue work can pick up their week's paychecks today, she said.

ICE officials on Thursday said they can't comment on investigations.

The agency routinely audits large companies to make sure foreign-born employees are authorized to work in the country. An American Civil Liberties Union lawyer said the employees she saw had worked for the company five years or more, before the stricter I-9 documentation requirements were in place.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20090220/NEW ... 00432/1016

Do the right job - Congress, make it law to E-Verify everyone, start with State Unemployment Offices. And continue raiding my companies near and far.

An American Civil Liberties Union lawyer said the employees she saw had worked for the company five years or more, before the stricter I-9 documentation requirements were in place.

And what? This means they didn't know they were here and working illegally? I thought ignorance of the law was no excuse. Does that only apply to American citizens?

North Carolinians already are complaining about illegal aliens doing construction projects. Well Mr Obama you talk a good talk about putting American back to work but you turn a blind eye by encouraging this. You have forced taxpayers to subsidize this stimulus crapsandwich which will benefit your union, big labor, chamber of commerce, corporate and other globalist masters cheap labor demands and have told the American people to stick it up their asses you hypocritical socialist hockey puck!!!!!!!!!