Feds Launch Operation Wal-Mart

Gov't looking for illegal immigrants at 60 stores in 21 states

October 23, 2003

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government early Thursday morning began conducting a vast sweep for alleged illegal immigrants, Fox News has learned.

The operation targeted employees of companies that conduct cleaning services for Wal-Mart, sources said. People currently being picked up by the government are believed to be among the illegal immigrants at 60 different stores in 21 states.

The Wal-Mart chain was built by Sam Walton.

In addition, some Wal-Mart executives are expected to be slapped with grand jury subpoenas as part of this investigation, sources told Fox News. Investigators are looking into whether Wal-Mart executives knew that their contracted cleaning companies may have been hiring illegal immigrants for years.

The individuals picked up in the immigration sweep could face deportation proceedings, sources said.

The cleaning companies are suspected of bringing in illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe and elsewhere. As part of their probe, investigators have undercover recorded telephone conversations and meetings they say indicate the extent of the ring, sources said.

Fox News' Anna Stolley contributed to this report.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,100992,00.html