Late last week 50 Hispanic staffers at a Barnes & Noble distribution center in Revo, Nev., were fired after a federal immigration audit. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, the staffers were told their firings came as a result of problems with their immigration documents. Now, some of the staffers 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. From there, the ICE identified a number of workers who needed to provide further documentation by February 20. Keating closed by saying, "Barnes & Noble has fully cooperated with Immigration authorities and has notified those employees identified by ICE. The Company is committed to observing all employment documentation standards for our employees."
Keating added that B&N expects to hear from the ICE regarding these employees before the end of this week.
