Did Trump Properties Knowingly Employ Undocumented Workers?

By Bruce E. Buchanan

Over the past few months, Trump National Golf Clubs in Westchester, N.Y., Bedminster, N.J., Pine Hill, N.J., Montrose, N.J., and Hopewell Junction, N.Y. have been in the news for employing undocumented workers and thereafter terminating the workers after press coverage revealed their unauthorized employment. As an immigration compliance attorney, my first question is whether Trump properties knew or should have known (constructive knowledge) of their unauthorized work status.

Legal Standard

Why does it make a difference whether Trump properties knew or should have known  of the employees’ undocumented status? Because under the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), it is a violation to knowingly hire and/or employ undocumented workers. If an employer unknowingly employs undocumented workers and terminates them upon receiving knowledge of their unauthorized status, it has not violated IRCA unless it decides to retain them after acquiring knowledge.

Termination of Undocumented Employees

Now back to the saga of Trump National Golf Clubs and its undocumented workers. Between December and February 2019, Trump National Golf Clubs fired over 20 undocumented workers. The terminations at the five Trump golf clubs appear to be as a result of internal I-9  audits that the Trump Organization is conducting at its properties across the country. Trump Organization, through Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization, stated “We have tens of thousands of employees across our properties and have very strict hiring practices. If any employee submitted false documentation in an attempt to circumvent the law, they will be terminated immediately. We take this issue very seriously.”

One former employee, Victorina Morales, a housekeeper at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, began employment in 2013. According to Morales, the club managers helped her obtain fake documents, including taking her photo for the documents in the laundry room. In December 2018, she discussed her undocumented status and abuse by her supervisor with the New York Times. Thereafter, she was terminated due to her undocumented status.

Another former employee, Victor Reyes, a cook at the Pine Hill golf club, told the New York Times: “The manager called me and asked, ‘Victor, are you legal?’ I said, ‘No, I am not legal.’ It surprised me because I knew he knew that I was illegal. I have worked for him 16 years and then he asks me.” After Reyes’ admission, he and other workers were told their documents did not pass inspection after an internal I-9 audit and fired.

It should be noted the Trump golf club’s method, as described by Reyes, is not the proper way to conduct an internal I-9 audit. The best method is to first examine the documentation on file with the I-9 form, if the employer retained the documentation. If it appears to be fraudulent, an employee should be so notified and given the opportunity to present document(s) from the I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents. If the employee cannot provide documentation to prove work authorization, the employee should then be discharged. 

At the Westminster golf club, Margarita Cruz, an eight-year employee, tape-recorded her termination meeting with Deidre Rosen of the Trump Organization. Rosen read a prepared statement, which said the club had conducted an internal I-9 audit (or “interim” I-9 audit, as she stated), and concluded Ms. Cruz’s documents were fraudulent and she was terminated. Ms. Cruz was shocked because the Club knew her Social Security card, presented at hiring, was fake but took no action until press coverage.

Analysis

Based upon these stories, one may ask if Trump properties knowingly employed undocumented workers. As for Cruz, just because she gave the Trump club a fake Social Security card does not mean the club knew or should have known she was undocumented. The test is whether the document appears genuine and relates to that individual. But Cruz says the club was aware of the fake documents. If they were, the Trump golf club knowingly employed her as undocumented. However, if the club was not aware of the fake documentation, it appears the Trump club did not knowingly employee Cruz as an undocumented worker.

For those not involved in immigration compliance, you may think a fake document is easy to spot and employers know when they are accepting fake documents. False! I can easily spot a fake green card because I’m an immigration attorney who conducts many internal I-9 audits. However, most of my clients are not able to spot fake green cards because the green cards appear genuine. And remember that’s the test that an employer must use.

In the case of Morales, the Trump club knew of her undocumented status, if she is credited. Morales said club managers even helped her obtain fake documents. Thus, the club was aware of her undocumented status and it knowingly employed an undocumented worker. The company and its club managers may be charged with violating the  federal criminal conspiracy law concerning its employment of illegal aliens.

As for Reyes, if his story is correct, the Trump club knowingly hired and employed an undocumented worker but it is unlikely any criminal law was broken.

What will happen to these terminated employees? They are subject to being detained by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and placed into deportation proceedings. However, one immigration lawyer is trying to stop that.

David Leopold, an immigration lawyer at Ulmer & Berne, stated “If the terminated undocumented workers get removed from the U.S., that is obstruction of justice because these are witnesses and that’s what we’re talking about on Capitol Hill.” Several terminated undocumented workers met with Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez of New Jersey and several Congressmen about their plight. They requested a congressional investigation into Trump Organization’s hiring practices and to be shielded from deportation. Leopold said as victims of federal crimes and/or material witnesses, the terminated workers are eligible for “continuous presence” to remain in the U.S. and long-term immigration relief, including T visa, U visa, or Deferred Action. Thus, they should not be deported.

Will tell as to whether the government seeks to take action against the Trump clubs.