Immigration raids took place at 7-Eleven stores across the country Wednesday, including at locations in Florida.
- Raids at 7-Eleven stores in Florida part of nationwide immigration crackdown
- ICE officials raided 98 stores, arresting 21 people
- 4 stores raided in Orlando; 4 stores in Ft. Myers
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided 98 stores and arrested 21 people on a crackdown of undocumented workers.
Tampa Bay stores were not part of the crackdown but stores in Orlando and Ft. Myers were.
And the raids are not over.
ICE officials made it clear Wednesday that this was the first of many operations targeting employers.
The visits involved officers entering stores and questioning employees about their immigration status. In Florida, four stores in Orlando were forced to turn over employment records. Another four stores were visited in the Ft. Myers area.
The sweep sparked a backlash from some parts of the country.
David Campos, the Deputy County Executive of Santa Clara County California, said the raids are part of a pattern under President Trump.
"This is just part of the same tactic to intimidate the immigrant community," Campos said.
ICE Deputy Director Thomas Human said in a statement the action sends a strong message to businesses that hire and employ an illegal workforce. He added the enforcement leads to better employment practices that are in line with immigration laws.
The 7-Eleven raids stem from an investigation that is now five years old.
The investigation uncovered nine store managers and franchises in New York and Virginia using fake identities to employ illegal immigrants.