Latest news with #I-9
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Buona Forchetta reopens following workplace enforcement operation
SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) — Buona Forchetta in South Park was back to business on Wednesday following a brief closure as a result of a workplace enforcement operation that was carried out by immigration officials last Friday. 'We came to support Matteo. I mean, we've been a customer of Buona Forchetta since 2014 when we first moved to San Diego,' said Dale Haas, a long-time customer. Haas and Jason Gagnom were among the first to eat at the restaurant Wednesday after immigration officials conducted a workplace enforcement operation at the business. PREVIOUS: Buona Forchetta to close temporarily following ICE raid in South Park Federal agents were met with community members protesting their investigation. The raid ended with flashbangs and a shaken-up community. 'It was just unnecessary. The way this was done was just absolutely unnecessary,' said Gagnom. They say they know all the employees at the South Park location where the raid happened feel like something happened to their family. 'They've invited us for Christmas, we've spent special occasions, birthdays…I would say hundreds of times we've come here…holidays,' they said. 'We always feel like this is a family place. Anytime we have guests in town, we always bring them to Buona Forchetta.' Outrage and solidarity after ICE raid shakes South Park restaurant The search warrant released this week shows the investigation dates back to 2020, when Homeland Security Investigations received a tip that the restaurant's owner was hiring immigrants in the country illegally and asking them to work long hours. Homeland Security Investigations received another tip in January, accusing the restaurant of hiring people in the country illegally and using fake names on work schedules. Investigators say that the restaurant submitted fraudulent green cards when asked to turn over employee I-9 forms. As a result of the raid, at least two employees were taken into ICE custody. 'We believe in what Trump is doing and his message is, 'We're not going to stand for it,'' said Pedro Gonzalez, a customer. While Gonzalez said he supports the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, he was thinking of the restaurant while in town and wanted to support it. 'Every business has an overhead cost and just because unfortunately, they had people working they maybe or maybe not…we don't know…shouldn't have been working here, we don't know that,' he said. 'Of course, that's going to be determined at a later date, but we're still going to support the business. It has amazing food.' In a statement released Monday, Buona Forchetta said it received a copy of the warrant and is in the process of reviewing it with its legal counsel. It said it will provide further comment as appropriate after review. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Walmart fires migrant workers after Supreme Court let Trump strip them of legal status: report
Walmart has begun laying off employees at some of its Florida stores after a recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to revoke legal protections previously extended to hundreds of thousands of migrants. The company has informed staff in at least two locations that continued employment is contingent on obtaining valid work authorization, individuals familiar with the matter told Bloomberg News. The layoffs stem from the expiration of temporary legal residency status, affecting workers who had previously been permitted to live and work in the US under programs established during the Biden administration. Advertisement 3 Walmart has begun laying off employees who no longer have protected migrant status at some of its Florida stores, according to a report. AP These terminations are tied to compliance with federal I-9 forms, which employers must use to verify both the identity and employment authorization of their workers. While the exact number of terminated employees remains unclear, the move is part of a broader wave of corporate responses to a changing legal landscape. Last month, the Walt Disney Company informed some Florida-based employees who are losing temporary legal status that their jobs would be terminated. Advertisement Disney confirmed that it placed 45 workers on leave after the legal ruling, citing compliance with federal immigration laws as the reason. 'We are committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all our employees who may be navigating changing immigration policies and how they could impact them or their families,' Disney said in a statement. The employees are Venezuelan nationals who had been granted Temporary Protected Status. They will continue to receive benefits while on leave, Disney said. Advertisement According to the company, the decision was made to ensure no employees were unknowingly violating US law due to their changing legal status. 3 Venezuelan migrants react after arriving on a deportation flight from the United States in Venezuela on May 9. REUTERS The Supreme Court ruling is likely to affect as many as half a million migrants, including individuals from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba. The ruling effectively permits the Trump administration to end temporary protections for these individuals, who had been allowed to enter the US legally and were often integrated into the workforce. Advertisement The Post has sought comment from Walmart. When reached by Bloomberg News, Walmart declined to comment on the staff reductions or provide details about how many workers may be affected across its 4,600 stores nationwide. The company employs approximately 1.6 million workers in the US — the majority of whom are hourly employees working in retail locations. Immigration advocates and local officials in Florida, which has a large immigrant population, have expressed concern over the ramifications of the ruling. Central Florida, which is home to thousands of Venezuelan migrants, has already begun to feel the ripple effects, Bloomberg News reported. 3 A recent Supreme Court ruling allowed the Trump administration to revoke legal protections previously extended to hundreds of thousands of migrants. AP Many residents from that community had backed Donald Trump in the last presidential election, making the impact of the Supreme Court's decision particularly resonant. State Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who is running for mayor of Orlando, criticized the decision. Advertisement 'Disney sets the standard — other companies in our economy look toward them,' she said. 'We don't have enough workers as it is, so this is a bad situation that's getting worse.' Meanwhile, the Trump administration has not yet issued detailed guidance on how it plans to manage the large number of individuals expected to lose their legal status. Immigration enforcement officials have indicated that anyone lacking valid authorization could be subject to arrest and deportation. Advertisement The Trump administration recently launched a campaign to encourage voluntary departures, offering travel assistance and stipends of up to $1,000 to migrants who choose to leave the country on their own. States like Florida are home to many industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor. Labor shortages continue to plague key sectors such as hospitality, construction, and retail.
Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Toronto Sun
Walmart cuts some Florida jobs after immigration rulings
Terminations are connected to I-9 forms that U.S. employers use to check the ID and employment authorization of staff Published Jun 04, 2025 • 2 minute read A Walmart store in Cromwell, Connecticut on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023. Photo by Joe Buglewicz / Bloomberg Walmart Inc. is terminating some jobs in Florida after recent Supreme Court rulings about the legal residency of migrants, the latest sign that such orders are hitting U,S, workplaces. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The company has told employees in at least two stores in the state that they would lose jobs if they don't get new work authorizations, said people familiar with the matter. The exact number of job cuts was unclear. The terminations are connected to I-9 forms that U.S. employers use to check the identity and employment authorization of staff, the people said. A company spokeswoman declined to comment. Walmart is among U.S. companies responding to recent rulings by the Supreme Court that are expected to affect hundreds of thousands of migrants. The court ended legal protections for as many as half a million people from countries including Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, who were allowed to legally enter the country during the Biden administration. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. That decision followed an earlier ruling by the Supreme Court clearing the way for the Trump administration to end deportation protections for roughly 350,000 Venezuelans who have been allowed to live and work in the US under the Temporary Protected Status program. The Trump administration has not yet clarified how it intends to deal with those who are set to lose their permission to be in the US. But immigration enforcement officials have said anyone in the country without permission could face arrest and deportation. The administration has launched an ad campaign to encourage migrants to leave on their own, offering travel assistance and a stipend of up to $1,000. Walt Disney Co. in recent weeks notified Florida-based employees who are losing temporary legal residency in the U.S. that their jobs would be terminated. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Disney sets the standard — other companies in our economy look toward them,' said Florida State Representative Anna Eskamani, a Democrat running for mayor of Orlando. Central Florida is home to thousands of Venezuelans, many of whom supported Donald Trump in last year's presidential election. 'We don't have enough workers as it is, so this is a bad situation that's getting worse,' Eskamani told Bloomberg. Walmart, the biggest retailer in the world, has about 4,600 stores in the US with each location typically employing a few hundred employees. Most of its 1.6 million US workers are hourly store employees. Columnists Crime Sunshine Girls Columnists Other Sports
NDTV
20-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Trump's Crackdown On Undocumented Immigrants Hits Washington Restaurants
United States: When armed immigration agents made a surprise visit earlier this month to Pupatella, a trendy pizzeria in the US capital's Dupont neighborhood, they may not have made any arrests, but they delivered a clear message. The show of force, part of an "enhanced operation" by President Donald Trump's hardline administration, has had ripple effects through an industry reliant on immigrant labor, owners and others in the sector say. The agents asked to see employment eligibility forms known as I-9s, said Natasha Neely, vice president of Pupatella, which has several locations in the Washington area. "They did not have a warrant, and they did not have any form of paperwork, so they were turned away," she told AFP. A few hours later, agents showed up at Pupatella's Capitol Hill location, this time with a "notice of inspection," Neely said. The manager referred them to the restaurant's corporate office. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency said it had arrested 189 undocumented migrants after handing out 187 such notices in the Washington area between May 6 and May 9. In a press release, it described the activity as an "enhanced targeted immigration enforcement operation focusing on criminal alien offenders." While the inspection notices are not unusual, Neely said, they are normally delivered by e-mail due to their administrative nature. "We have never experienced anything like this," she said, expressing confusion about why the restaurant had been targeted. Crackdown fear Trump has made deporting undocumented immigrants a key priority for his second term, after successfully campaigning against an alleged "invasion" by criminals. So far, his administration has deported tens of thousands of migrants, with US courts hearing cases on allegations that the government violated due process in certain cases. Undocumented migrants are "the backbone of our industry. From top to bottom," Shawn Townsend, president of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), told AFP. In addition to the restaurant industry, immigrant labor plays a crucial role in many sectors of the economy, including agriculture and construction. Before Trump's inauguration in January, RAMW knew immigration enforcement "was going to be a priority of the incoming administration, and so we held our first I-9 training workshop," said Townsend. One restaurant owner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he felt threatened when immigration agents recently visited his establishment. "I'm going to see what the repercussions of that are. Basically, I don't know whether they're going to fine me forever or try to put me in jail," he said. Labor impacts According to a survey by employment law firm Littler Mendelson, 58 percent of executives said they were concerned Trump's anti-immigration policies would create labor shortages. The manufacturing and hospitality sectors were the most concerned. Since his restaurant was visited, the owner who requested anonymity said "anyone who had any questions about their eligibility to work has left." "They were advised by advocates... to basically just lay low, not come into work." Townsend said that the "political climate" and economic challenges facing small businesses were likely combining to raise anxiety among restaurant workers. Increased immigration enforcement, as during Trump's first term in office, "creates a scenario where (staff) may not return to work," he said. Neely said employees at Pupatella were startled by the surprise ICE visit, but that the restaurant was taking steps to address the situation. "We've made sure all of the managers know what the restaurants' rights are and what each team member's rights are," she said. Nevertheless, the raids do have a chilling effect. "Let's be honest, if anyone shows up at any location in a federal uniform with guns and vests... that's unnerving."
Free Malaysia Today
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Trump's immigration crackdown targets Washington restaurants
Immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) arrested 189 undocumented migrants after handing out 187 inspection notices in Washington. (AP pic) WASHINGTON : When armed immigration agents made a surprise visit earlier this month to Pupatella, a trendy pizzeria in the US capital's Dupont neighbourhood, they may not have made any arrests, but they delivered a clear message. The show of force, part of an 'enhanced operation' by president Donald Trump's hardline administration, has had ripple effects through an industry reliant on immigrant labour, owners and others in the sector say. The agents asked to see employment eligibility forms known as I-9s, said Natasha Neely, vice president of Pupatella, which has several locations in the Washington area. 'They did not have a warrant, and they did not have any form of paperwork, so they were turned away,' she told AFP. A few hours later, agents showed up at Pupatella's Capitol Hill location, this time with a 'notice of inspection,' Neely said. The manager referred them to the restaurant's corporate office. The immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) agency said it had arrested 189 undocumented migrants after handing out 187 such notices in the Washington area between May 6 and May 9. In a press release, it described the activity as an 'enhanced targeted immigration enforcement operation focusing on criminal alien offenders.' While the inspection notices are not unusual, Neely said, they are normally delivered by e-mail due to their administrative nature. 'We have never experienced anything like this,' she said, expressing confusion about why the restaurant had been targeted. Crackdown fear Trump has made deporting undocumented immigrants a key priority for his second term, after successfully campaigning against an alleged 'invasion' by criminals. So far, his administration has deported tens of thousands of migrants, with US courts hearing cases on allegations that the government violated due process in certain cases. Undocumented migrants are 'the backbone of our industry. From top to bottom,' Shawn Townsend, president of the restaurant association metropolitan washington (RAMW), told AFP. In addition to the restaurant industry, immigrant labour plays a crucial role in many sectors of the economy, including agriculture and construction. Before Trump's inauguration in January, RAMW knew immigration enforcement 'was going to be a priority of the incoming administration, and so we held our first I-9 training workshop,' said Townsend. One restaurant owner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he felt threatened when immigration agents recently visited his establishment. 'I'm going to see what the repercussions of that are. Basically, I don't know whether they're going to fine me forever or try to put me in jail,' he said. Labour impacts According to a survey by employment law firm Littler Mendelson, 58 percent of executives said they were concerned Trump's anti-immigration policies would create labour shortages. The manufacturing and hospitality sectors were the most concerned. Since his restaurant was visited, the owner who requested anonymity said 'anyone who had any questions about their eligibility to work has left'. 'They were advised by advocates… to basically just lay low, not come into work.' Townsend said that the 'political climate' and economic challenges facing small businesses were likely combining to raise anxiety among restaurant workers. Increased immigration enforcement, as during Trump's first term in office, 'creates a scenario where (staff) may not return to work,' he said. Neely said employees at Pupatella were startled by the surprise ICE visit, but that the restaurant was taking steps to address the situation. 'We've made sure all of the managers know what the restaurants' rights are and what each team member's rights are,' she said. Nevertheless, the raids do have a chilling effect. 'Let's be honest, if anyone shows up at any location in a federal uniform with guns and vests… that's unnerving.'
