DENVER - Federal immigration officials stepped up their probe into Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill's hiring practices this week with agents targeting about 30 of the chain's restaurants on Tuesday.
Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) showed up at the burrito chain's stores in several states, including Georgia, California and Minnesota, as well as the District of Columbia, Robert Luskin, an attorney for the company, confirmed Wednesday.
"They spoke to employees and managers and in some cases served subpoenas," said Luskin, an attorney with Patton Boggs in Washington, D.C.
Cori Bassett, an ICE spokeswoman, said ICE doesn't comment on ongoing investigations.
Chipotle has been under the microscope for its hiring practices for several months.
In April, Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran acknowledged the criminal division of the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., requested documents.
Before that the company had received "notices of inspection" from ICE for employees in Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Minnesota.
Chipotle said it fired 450 people in Minnesota last year after a federal immigration audit.
