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Beverly Hills, California, United States
Eli Kantor is a labor, employment and immigration law attorney. He has been practicing labor, employment and immigration law for more than 36 years. He has been featured in articles about labor, employment and immigration law in the L.A. Times, Business Week.com and Daily Variety. He is a regular columnist for the Daily Journal. Telephone (310)274-8216; eli@elikantorlaw.com. For more information, visit beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com and and beverlyhillsemploymentlaw.com

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Monday, October 29, 2012

California Latino Grocery Chain Fights Immigration Woes

ASSOCIATED PRESS (California)
October 27, 2012

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57541678/calif-latino-grocery-chain-fights-immigration-woes/

Two decades ago, Mi Pueblo Food Center began as a small butcher shop run by an illegal immigrant. Now, it has grown into a popular chain of 21 Hispanic grocery stores in Northern and Central California.

But the company is under fire from an ongoing immigration audit and its decision to use a controversial federal program that screens the eligibility of new employees to work in the U.S.

The union organizing Mi Pueblo's 3,200 workers is also leading a consumer boycott against the company.

Experts say immigration audits --— an Obama administration alternative to immigration raids --— can cause a dilemma for companies that cater to immigrants.

They have to fire workers who lack employment authorization, but can also face the ire of the community and labor unions.

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