Visa Lawyer Blog
Hundreds of American Apparel Inc. workers must leave the company because they were unable to prove their immigration status or fix problems with their employment records, the bottom line is that almost 1600 workers were not legally allowed to work in the US.
ICE first conducted an inspection of American Apparel in early 2008 to determine if the company was complying with immigration laws. This past July, American Apparel received notification from ICE that the agency had been unable to verify the employment eligibility of approximately 200 American Apparel employees, and, based on ICE’s review of government databases, another 1,600 American Apparel employees did not appear to be authorized to work in the U.S.
Although the dismissals amount to more than 10% of American Apparel’s roughly 10,000-employee workforce, the company doesn’t expect problems for its business. American Apparel has a track record of being a strong advocate for immigration reform. The clothing company’s “Legalize LA” campaign is an integral part of the company’s culture. A combination of advertising, education and resources on American Apparel’s website shows just how committed the company is to raising awareness on the subject of immigration.
Here is what the company’s CEO had to say:
It is my belief that immigrants bring prosperity to any economy. They become motivated workers, and they sometimes become motivated business owners like me. They bring fresh ideas, optimism, and passion to any economy and they help contribute to a prosperous future.
Although many people forget, migration has been going on for thousands of years, and it will continue for ever. My true dream is that one day we will all live in a world without borders.
This is just one example of how Immigration enforcement is on the rise, the only questions is who is next.
Read the CEO’s letter here