Everything you will ever need is at Wal-Mart.

elchrist

- Michael Moore

Johanna Molina and Jesus Valenzuela of Mexicali barely manage to haul Christmas gifts to their vehicle this morning at Wal-Mart in Calexico. Finding parking this morning was nearly impossible as Christmas sales started at several stores.CUAUHTEMOC BELTRAN PHOTO

http://ivpressonline.com/display/inn_news/news01.txt

elchrist · Posted: 09 Dec 2002 11:30 PM Post subject:

I was at Wal-Mart in El Centro the other day... it was total chaos.

There were boxes all over the floor and items as well. Seems as if they were overstocked, so they were trying to fit everything into the shelves, but it was impossible.

The parking lot was also full of cars with Mexican plates. I wonder if they got tired of dealing with their own kind at the Calexico store, so they decided to drive the extra miles to avoid the zoo.

spic-ole · Posted: 10 Dec 2002 11:08 AM Post subject:

chainsmokinmonkey · Posted: 16 Dec 2002 10:38 PM Post subject:

elchrist · Posted: 23 Dec 2003 10:52 AM Post subject: La Migra

TO: Wal-Mart, SAM'S CLUBS and Logistics Home Office Associates
FROM: Corporate Affairs
DATE: December 19, 2003
RE: INS Investigation: Wal-Mart Now Tells Its Side of the Story

About ten days ago, a Wall Street Journal reporter came to us and asked for
comments on a story she was writing about the ongoing investigation of
undocumented workers in our stores. Given the tremendous attention this
story has already received and the fact that it is not going to go away, we
felt we had to go public with the facts that are favorable to Wal-Mart. The
story appears on the front page today, and we feel it is balanced.

The Story

INS officials from its Chicago and Pennsylvania offices had come to us in
2000, and again in 2001, for help investigating cleaning contractors they
suspected of hiring undocumented workers. Among other things, these
officials asked us not to terminate any contractors -- even when we were in
the process of bringing that function in-house. Federal officials asked us
to stop because they wanted to continue the surveillance in our stores. They
feared that would tip the contractors off about the investigations.

Not only did we continue to use the contractors as requested, but some store
managers cooperated further with the INS by participating in taped telephone
conversations with the contracting companies. On numerous occasions,
federal officials told us we were not the target of any investigation, and
that we would be given a heads-up before any raids or arrests were made in
our stores. As you know, events played out differently and they conducted
unannounced raids on our stores. Additionally, they created a well-planned
media frenzy by saying they had proof that Wal-Mart executives knew what was
going on.

If asked about this, you may say:
* We were simply trying to help our government and cooperated closely with federal agents for three years.
* We know the INS has an especially tough job these days, and we respect that. However, the government cannot take actions such as these and then expect us not to tell our side of the story.
* We will continue to cooperate with federal officials, but they still have not shown us any evidence indicating anyone at Wal-Mart broke the law.
* We will defend our company and our reputation.

We expect this story will get a lot of attention over the next few days.