![Wal-Mart to pay $11M to settle DOJ illegal immigrant labor case](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] Retail giant Wal-Mart [corporate website] agreed Friday to pay $11 million to settle US Department of Justice [official website] allegations that it had employed hundreds of illegal immigrants to perform janitorial services in 60 stores across the country. The DOJ investigation revealed that Wal-Mart employed over 345 illegal immigrants directly and through janitorial contractors. While Wal-Mart escaped criminal charges, 12 contractors involved in the investigation pleaded guilty to criminal immigration charges and agreed to pay $4 million in fines. In addition, Wal-Mart has agreed to create an internal program to ensure future compliance with immigration laws through its own practices and its contractors. Under federal law, an employer can face civil and criminal penalties for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants or failing to comply with certain employee record-keeping regulations. Read Wal-Mart's statement on the settlement. AP has more.