WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) wrote to Kirstjen Nielsen, Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) and Christopher Wray, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conduct an appropriate investigation into alleged crimes committed at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., and Westchester County, N.Y. Last week, Sen. Menendez met with four undocumented former employees who said that club management knew about their undocumented status, and provided and facilitated obtaining false documents to justify their employment.

On December 6, 2018, the New York Times reported that the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, employed undocumented workers and that at least two supervisors at the club knew about their immigration status and helped workers evade detection. According to the story, Ms. Morales made it known when she was first hired that she didn’t have work authorization, but was told to use false documents.

“Given the serious nature of these allegations, I bring this to your attention and request that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conduct an appropriate investigation into the matter,” wrote Sen. Menendez. “Furthermore, because the individuals I met with and others that may step forward appear to be potential witnesses to a crime and may provide the evidence necessary to conduct an appropriate investigation, I urge you to consider requesting or supporting authorization for them to remain in the U.S. during your necessary investigation.”

“Additionally, law enforcement agencies working with a potential witness to a crime have tools at their disposal to assist in their investigation and may request – or support requests – for immigration or other authorized status, such as continued presence, deferred action, U or T visas, or any other appropriate relief,” the Senator concluded.

Sen. Menendez met with a group of undocumented, former employees from the Trump National Golf Clubs in Bedminster, N.J. and Westchester County, N.Y. including two New Jersey residents who will be attending President Trump’s State of the Union address tomorrow:

  • Victorina Morales is an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. She was hired by the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in 2013, and was provided false identification documents by her employers. Morales was terminated shortly after the New York Times story on the property. While she worked there, she suffered verbal and physical assault by her supervisors and was repeatedly threatened with deportation, if she came forward. Morales will attend to the SOTU address as guest of Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.)
  • Sandra Diaz is an immigrant from Costa Rica. Diaz was undocumented during her tenure at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster from 2010 to 2013 and she too, was provided false identification documents by her employer, coerced to do certain jobs against her will, suffered physical and verbal abuse, and threatened with deportation. Diaz will attend to the SOTU address as guest of Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.)

Most recently, the New York Times reported new multiple firings at a third Trump property located in Pine Hill, N.J. This new report confirms the notion that it remains unclear how many undocumented employees are still working at Trump properties.

The full letter of can we found here and below.

The Honorable Christopher Wray
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
U.S. Department of Justice
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001

The Honorable Kirstjen Nielsen
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
3801 Nebraska Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20016

Dear Director Wray and Secretary Nielsen:

On January 29, 2019, I met with four individuals and their attorney who have credibly alleged that serious crimes occurred at the Trump National Golf Club in both Bedminster, New Jersey, and Westchester County, New York. Given the serious nature of these allegations, I bring this to your attention and request that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) conduct an appropriate investigation into the matter. Furthermore, because the individuals I met with and others that may step forward appear to be potential witnesses to a crime and may provide the evidence necessary to conduct an appropriate investigation, I urge you to consider requesting or supporting authorization for them to remain in the U.S. during your necessary investigation.

The New York Times reported on December 6, 2018, that the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, employed undocumented workers. The brave undocumented employees that came forward – and who were subsequently fired from their positions – stated that supervisors at the club knew of their immigration status and helped the workers evade detection. The workers also allege the Golf Club provided and facilitated obtaining false documents, and even transported the employees to work daily. Furthermore, on January 18, 2019, The Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, New York, fired a dozen employees because – according to their attorney – they were undocumented immigrants, even though some of the workers had been employed for over fifteen years. The workers I met with describe a hostile environment where they were verbally abused and threatened. Given the serious nature of these allegations, I request that the FBI/HSI immediately open an investigation regarding the Trump National Golf Clubs.

Additionally, law enforcement agencies working with a potential witness to a crime have tools at their disposal to assist in their investigation and may request – or support requests – for immigration or other authorized status, such as continued presence, deferred action, U or T visas, or any other appropriate relief. Attorney Anibal Romero represents the individuals I met with and I strongly urge you to work with him to assess the best approach regarding the status of these immigrants to ensure these potential witnesses are available to assist in the appropriate investigations.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely,

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