In the aftermath of raids by immigration agents at two of its Erie County stores this week, Corso's Flower and Garden Center has released a statement defending its hiring practices.
On Tuesday, ICE agents apprehended more than 100 workers in Castalia and Sandusky who were suspected of being in the U.S. illegally.
In the statement, Corso’s addressed what they referred to as 'troubling' reports of alleged poor treatment of employees during the arrest process, including "an apparent lack of information provided by federal authorities to family members of those arrested."
In the immediate aftermath of the raids, officials estimate more than 50 U.S. born children were left behind, ranging in age from infants to teens. They cannot have contact with their parents who were sent to detention centers in Youngstown and Michigan.
Corso’s also says it strives to comply with U.S. employment laws. "If mistakes were
made or if anyone used false, fraudulent, or otherwise disingenuous identification documents or other documents to secure employment at Corso’s, the company was not aware of those things."
No criminal charges have been filed against Corso's, but authorities say the employer is under investigation.
Federal agents say 44-year old Martha Buendia-Chavarria operated a document mill in Marion in which she used stolen identities of those in Puerto Rico or information of the recently deceased to produce Social Security cards and birth certificates for people looking to work at Corso’s.
"She would help somebody that was looking for some fraudulent documents to turn into an employer," according to Immigrations & Customs Enforcement spokesman Khaalid Walls.
You can read the entire statement below: