RENO, Nev.—Fifty Hispanic staffers at a Barnes & Noble distribution center were fired after a federal immigration audit.
According to a report in the Reno Gazette Journal, the staffers were told their firings came as a result of problems with their immigration documents. The workers are consulting with the ACLU about potential legal representation.
Mary Ellen Keating, corporate spokesperson for Barnes & Noble, said in a statement that the company was contacted on February 2 by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Office in Reno asking for I-9 forms for all of the company’s staffers in the local warehouse.
The ICE then identified a number of workers who needed to provide further documentation with a February 20 deadline.
“Barnes & Noble has fully cooperated with Immigration authorities and has notified those employees identified by ICE,” said Keeting. “The company is committed to observing all employment documentation standards for our employees.”
Keating added that Barnes & Noble expects to hear from the ICE regarding these employees before the end of the week.
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