Immigration Enforcement Hits LA Employers

During the Bush Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted highly publicized raids on companies where undocumented workers were suspected to be employed. Hundreds of workers were detained and many were imprisoned, deported or both. The Obama Administration has adopted a different strategy, auditing employment records at suspect companies and pressuring employers to fire workers whose citizenship is questionable. One ICE audit led to the firing of 1800 people, more than a fourth of the work force at one of LA's biggest employers. Because American Apparel pays well, offers health benefits and has even given stock to its workers, Mayor Villaraigosa has called the dismissals "devastating."