Pro's Ranch Market fires 300 employees working illegally in the U.S. (AZFamily.com)

Pro's Ranch Market fires 300 employees working illegally in the U.S.

by Catherine Holland
azfamily.com
Posted on April 22, 2010 at 7:05 AM

PHOENIX -- Pro's Ranch Market has fired some 300 people -- about 20 percent of its employees -- in the wake of a federal audit that found them to be working in the U.S. illegally.

According to an attorney for the company, most of those workers provided forged documents when they were asked to prove their work eligibility. Non-citizens must have work authorization in order to get a job in this country.

The firings happened Tuesday and Wednesday.

The company could also face fines for employing people who are not permitted to work here.

The federal audit that spawned the firings has looked at more than 1,600 businesses across the U.S. since July 2009, including 84 here in Arizona.

Pro's Ranch Market employees about 1,500 people at its six stores in the Phoenix metro area.