U.S. immigration agents targeted nearly 100 7-Eleven stores nationwide Wednesday to open employment audits and interview workers in what officials described as the largest operation against an employer under Trump’s presidency.
The investigation began with a 4-year-old case against a franchisee on New York’s Long Island. The audits could lead to criminal charges or fines over 7-Eleven's hiring practices.
Derek Benner, a top official at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Associated Press that Wednesday’s operation was “the first of many.” He said there will be more employment audits and investigations.
“This is what we’re gearing up for this year and what you’re going to see more and more of is these large-scale compliance inspections, just for starters.
From there, we will look at whether these cases warrant an administrative posture or criminal investigation,” said Benner, acting head of ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations.
The action appears to open a new front in Trump’s sharp expansion of immigration enforcement, which has already brought a 40 percent increase in deportation arrests and plans to spend billions of dollars on a border wall with Mexico. Hardliners have been pressing for a tougher stance on employers.
Wednesday's operation resulted in the arrests of 21 people suspected of being in the country illegally, though officials say the focus of the sweep was management.
7-Eleven Stores Inc., with more than 8,600 stores in the U.S., didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment.