Immigration Troubles Hit Bilingual Preschool Center Coming to Maple Grove

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested one worker, according to news reports, and as many as 60 other employees have left Jardín Mágico, a Minneapolis-based preschool chain planning to open a center in the former Maple Grove library.  

The Star Tribune reported Tuesday: 

"As many as 60 teachers and staff at a Twin Cities Spanish immersion day care chain may have been targeted in a federal immigration investigation after they failed to provide documentation of their status.

"At a meeting Monday night and in a letter sent last week, parents of the chain were told that as many as 60 staff members had left rather than contest the findings or submit new documentation after Homeland Security had requested further information on their employment eligibility."

According to KARE 11: 

"'At no time did law enforcement personnel enter the premises or conduct any physical law enforcement operations in or around any of the business locations,' said [ICE spokesperson Shaun] Neudauer.

"The Jardin Magico daycare sent all parents a letter Friday, July 12, notifying them that the US Department of Homeland Security was conducting a review of employment records. Owners Xavier Lopez and Natalie Standridge Lopez said as a result some employees elected to leave the center instead of contest DHS findings. They stressed hiring practices have always been in full compliance with the law." 

Related at Maple Grove Patch: 

• What is Happening at the Former Maple Grove Library Site
• Spanish Immersion Preschool Coming to Old Maple Grove Library