Fear and uncertainty of the future have never felt more real for immigrant communities, as new policy changes have made undocumented workers more vulnerable to deportation than ever, separating families and taking away their primary sources of income.
Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has significantly changed immigration policy and practices in the U.S. by pushing for stricter immigration laws, increasing border security, and expanding ICE's authority for immigration raids.
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Additionally, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently ended Temporary Protection Status for many Latin American communities.
This effectively revokes certain employment authorization documents for those whose parole has been terminated, therefore impacting thousands of immigrant workers.
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The department also announced that it would enforce regular E-Verification to identify if employees are eligible to work in the U.S.
Amid the stricter immigration policies, a popular restaurant chain has now been accused of committing terrible acts against the immigrant community, only adding to this tumultuous situation.
The Cheesecake Factory is sued by its undocumented employees
Five anonymous plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) with the U.S. District Court of Pennsylvania for allegedly hiring undocumented workers at a restaurant in Willow Grove and participating in employment discrimination, forced labor, and human trafficking.
The plaintiffs claim the restaurant chain provided undocumented employees with fraudulent work authorization documents and abused and mistreated them at the convenience of managers and American staff.
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As stated in the court document, The Cheesecake Factory purposefully recruited undocumented workers by promising them job security, not to the employees' benefit, but rather for the financial interest of the company.
The restaurant chain allegedly forced the employees to work unpaid regular and overtime hours, while prohibiting them from taking bathroom and lunch breaks. They were also forced to work while unwell and under extreme conditions, leading some to develop medical issues.
If the employees didn't work to management's standards, they were harassed, called racial slurs, and threatened with deportation.
The Cheesecake Factory responds to the tumultuous allegations
If the accusations are proven true, The Cheesecake Factory would face charges for violating the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Pennsylvania’s Human Trafficking Act and Human Rights Act.
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The Cheesecake Factory denies all allegations and is sure the claims will be proven false.
“The allegations in the complaint are entirely false and without merit. The company follows well-established internal protocols to ensure consistent compliance with all federal employment verification laws, including our obligations under Form I-9 requirements. We take these matters seriously and intend to vigorously defend against these baseless accusations through the appropriate legal channels. We are confident that the facts will clearly demonstrate the integrity of our practices,” said The Cheesecake Factory Senior Vice President of Legal Services, Sidney M. Greathouse, in an email to The Street.
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