Chipotle Mexican Grill, the eatery that fired workers after an immigration probe began, said investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice may continue for as long as two more years.
“We’re back to earlier innings, I guess, in this investigation,” co-chief executive Montgomery Moran said during an investor conference Wednesday. It may take “a year or two more before it wraps up.”
Federal prosecutors are investigating possible criminal securities-law violations, the Denver-based company said in a filing with the SEC on Tuesday. Last week, the SEC subpoenaed Chipotle regarding work authorizations.
The investigations into Chipotle employees are part of President Barack Obama’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants working in the U.S. The plan includes securing U.S. borders and demanding accountability from businesses that hire undocumented workers, according to the administration’s website.
The 1,260-store burrito chain fired about 450 workers after an immigration investigation began in 2010 in Minnesota. It has since spread to other U.S. cities, including Washington, where the company let go about 50 workers last year.
Chipotle had about 30,940 employees Dec. 31.
