Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents raided nearly 100 7-Eleven stores early Wednesday morning in a crackdown on illegal workers. Twenty-one people were arrested in the sweep.
Ninety-eight stores in states including, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland, California, Florida, as well as the District of Columbia were targeted. Agents interviewed employees and delivered audits.
This morning’s raids were a follow up effort to make sure the company is complying with hiring laws. Nine 7-Eleven franchise owners and managers were arrested in 2013 for employing illegal aliens in their stores, among other charges. Store owners now have three days to provide ICE with their employees’ immigration status.
“Businesses that hire illegal workers are a pull factor for illegal immigration and we are working hard to remove this magnet. ICE will continue its efforts to protect jobs for American workers by eliminating unfair competitive advantages for companies that exploit illegal immigration,” an ICE statement read.