y14gemini
06-11-2008, 11:21 PM
Water park owner in sanctions investigation says it abides by immigration rules
The owner of two Phoenix area water parks being investigated by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas to determine whether the parks are employing illegal immigrants Tuesday said it is abiding by immigration laws and protocols.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office served search warrants at Golfland Entertainment Center Inc.-owned Waterworld and Golfland/Sunsplash parks Tuesday to see if the amusement parks were violating the state's employer sanctions law, the Legal Arizona Workers Act.
The investigation will look at whether the water parks knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Arpaio's office said Tuesday it had made some arrests in the actions.
In a statement, Golfland Entertainment Center said it has been "abiding by all the provisions detailed in the Act". That includes using the E-Verify, a federal electronic database that verifies workers legal status. GEC said it has systems in place to determine workers' status and is cooperating with the investigation. The two parks and another GEC-owned water park, BigSurf in Tempe, remain open, the company said.
The Golfland/Sunsplash park is located in Mesa, and the Waterworld facility is in the northwest Phoenix area. According to the company's Web site, there are also six Golfland water parks in California.
This is the first public action taken by Arpaio and Thomas on the employer sanctions law. They must prove violating businesses knowingly hired illegal immigrants.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/06/09/daily36.html
The owner of two Phoenix area water parks being investigated by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas to determine whether the parks are employing illegal immigrants Tuesday said it is abiding by immigration laws and protocols.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office served search warrants at Golfland Entertainment Center Inc.-owned Waterworld and Golfland/Sunsplash parks Tuesday to see if the amusement parks were violating the state's employer sanctions law, the Legal Arizona Workers Act.
The investigation will look at whether the water parks knowingly hired illegal immigrants. Arpaio's office said Tuesday it had made some arrests in the actions.
In a statement, Golfland Entertainment Center said it has been "abiding by all the provisions detailed in the Act". That includes using the E-Verify, a federal electronic database that verifies workers legal status. GEC said it has systems in place to determine workers' status and is cooperating with the investigation. The two parks and another GEC-owned water park, BigSurf in Tempe, remain open, the company said.
The Golfland/Sunsplash park is located in Mesa, and the Waterworld facility is in the northwest Phoenix area. According to the company's Web site, there are also six Golfland water parks in California.
This is the first public action taken by Arpaio and Thomas on the employer sanctions law. They must prove violating businesses knowingly hired illegal immigrants.
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/06/09/daily36.html