More than 1,200 janitors fired in Twin Cities immigration audit

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An immigration attorney says roughly 1,250 undocumented janitors in the Twin Cities were fired from their jobs in October as their company checked immigration papers.

The janitors worked for ABM Industries Inc., a New-York based company that provides janitorial services, said John Keller, an attorney for the nonprofit Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Minnesota Public Radio News first reported the firings on Monday.

Keller said the workers’ union called his office in early June for legal advice. He says ABM had sent employees letters that said Immigration and Customs Enforcement was requiring workers to show documents proving they had legal status to work in the U.S.

Keller said the vast majority of the 1,250 fired workers were undocumented. Keller said to his knowledge, no one was fired or deported.

ICE spokesman Tim Counts said the agency doesn’t discuss ongoing enforcement activity.

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