Gardening company says it didn’t know if workers used fake papers

SANDUSKY » An Ohio gardening company where immigration agents arrested 114 workers this week in one of the largest workplace raids in the U.S. in recent years says it doesn’t know if workers used fake documents to get jobs.

Corso’s Flower & Garden Center says Friday in a statement that it demands proper documentation from employees and ensures they pay taxes.

The arrests had occurred Tuesday at the company’s northern Ohio locations in Sandusky and nearby Castalia.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say they expect to charge workers for crimes including identity theft and tax evasion.

Authorities say Corso’s is under investigation. No criminal charges have been filed against the company.

Corso’s says if mistakes were made or fake identification documents were used by workers, it wasn’t aware.

U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, who represents the Ninth District and dean of the Ohio Delegation, released a statement June 6 in regards to the action by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“We are in direct contact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials as well as local advocates in regards to the 114 people that were questioned and in some cases detained, in yesterday’s raid in Sandusky,” Kaptur said. “My office is working to get as much information as possible, and we encourage transparency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials as this process unfolds.

“In this tense environment created by an Administration intent on dividing us, we want to make sure everything about this action is above board and that individuals are being treated with dignity and respect.”

Kaptur said she knows many Ohioans are upset and alarmed by these actions by the government and shares their concerns.

“We hope to share more information as it becomes available,” she said.

“My office is working to get as much information as possible, and we encourage transparency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials as this process unfolds. — U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur