American Apparel to fire 1,800 immigrant employees

Los Angeles American Apparel is expected to fire 1,800 immigrant employees -- more than a quarter of its work force, according to The New York Times.

The move follows a federal investigation that turned up irregularities in the identity documents the workers presented when they were hired.

The federal government has recently shifted its attention in immigration probes to make employers the primary target of immigration raids. In July, Homeland Security released a list of 652 businesses nationwide that will receive audits of their work force.

After an audit of American Apparel's employee records, the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement informed the company earlier this summer that some work-authorization papers were not in order. Employees unable to resolve these discrepancies are to lose their jobs.

The firings, which are slated to occur in the upcoming days, have divided opinion in California over the effects of the new approach, especially during a time when the unemployment rate is high in the state and with a major, well-regarded employer as a target, The New York Times reported.