Restaurant's License Suspended Due to Illegal Immigration Violations

10:20 PM, Apr 28, 2011/ Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Officials with the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation has suspended the business license for the Monterrey Mexican Restaurant on Killian Road near Columbia.

State officials say the business employed people who are not legally allowed to work in South Carolina, a violation of the state's Illegal Immigration Reform Act. On Oct. 25, 2010, officials told restaurant owners that four employees were not authorized to work in the state, and that they would be required to let the workers go.

On Nov. 5, 2010, officials found during a follow-up visit to the restaurant that the business had hired five new employees without verifying their employment status.

Gov. Nikki Haley said Monterrey's on Killian was the first business to have its license suspended under the law. Related Link: See all businesses that have been audited under the law

Officials say the restaurant is required to suspend its business for 10 consecutive days, and if they don't comply, they could face its business license to be revoked for five years.

"South Carolina is identifying the problem and addressing it," Haley said in a prepared news release.

The law says a business owner is required to verify the legal work status of employees by their fifth day of work.

On Jan. 6, Monterry's business license was suspended for 10 days, but officials gave them a chance to stay the suspension if the restaurant fired all unauthorized workers, pay a $1,000 fine, and conduct a self-audit to verify each employee's work eligibility.

On March 24, officials say they dropped by the restaurant unannounced to conduct an audit when they found that four new employees had been hired without properly confirming their work status.

"Employers who choose to ignore the requirements of the state immigration law in their hiring practices will be penalized," said LLR Director Catherine Templeton.

Officials have audited 5,800 businesses and cited 500 employers for violations related to work verification, since the law went into effect on July 1, 2009.
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