Disneyland Requests Hearing to Appeal $400,000 Fine by INS

ANAHEIM — Disneyland asked Friday for an administrative hearing so that it can appeal a fine of nearly $400,000 resulting from an investigation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

“We are also continuing discussions with the INS. We hope we can resolve the matter in our discussions,” said John McClintock, spokesman for the theme park.

No date was set for the hearing, which would take place before a federal administrative law judge, INS officials said.

On April 23, the INS recommended penalties of $394,840 for discrepancies found in Disneyland’s hiring. The fine was one of the largest proposed in California. The agency said it found dozens of instances in which immigration forms were filled out improperly and 155 workers who had improper documentation. Disneyland was given a month to decide whether to ask for a hearing or pay the fine.

None of the fines were for employing illegal immigrants. The INS does not impose such penalties unless it can be shown that an employer was aware that illegals were being hired.

McClintock said that 90 workers obtained the proper work papers, and 55 of the remaining 65 quit before the park could ascertain their immigration status. Five workers were fired when they could not prove that they were in the country legally.