Wal-Mart Receives Target Letter

Wal-Mart officials said the company received a letter from the government on Oct. 31 saying that a federal grand jury is investigating the world’s largest retailer for violating immigration laws.r

Wal-Mart said the notice, called a target letter, did not come as a surprise.r

“Wal-Mart was not surprised by this formal notice since it is in keeping with comments made by federal officials after the raids on Oct. 23,” Suzanne Haney, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, told Arkansasbusiness.com.r

On Oct. 23, about 300 workers at more than 60 Wal-Mart stores throughout the country — including in Arkansas — were arrested on immigration charges. Most of the 300 workers belonged to cleaning crews with which Wal-Mart had contracts.r

Haney said no individual company employee has received a target letter at this time. The company expects the jury to begin its hearing in mid-December.r

“This notice gives us time to provide the U.S. Attorney’s Office information that we feel supports our position. We don’t know if the grand jury hearing will result in any indictments,” she said. “However, we are in ongoing talks with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and are confident we will have the opportunity for full and complete discussions before any decisions are made.”r