BISMARCK - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. says it voluntarily shut down work Monday on all seven stores under construction in North Dakota, including the Grand Forks store, to check for illegal aliens.

"We wanted to be sure contractors are in compliance with applicable laws," said Marty Heires, a spokesman at Wal-Mart's corporate headquarters in Bentonville, Ark. "We were not asked by law enforcement or any government agency to do this."

Heires said construction was halted about noon Monday at the Grand Forks Wal-Mart, which is being converted into a Wal-Mart Supercenter. When finished it will include more amenities, including groceries. A gas station already is complete. He said Tuesday nothing was found at the Grand Forks site.

Construction also was stopped at stores in Minot, Williston, Dickinson and three in Bismarck. Work resumed later in the afternoon at all stores except for two in Bismarck and one in Dickinson, he said.

"Once we have assurances (from contractors) that everything is in order, we'll reopen them," he said.

The crack-down on illegal immigrants in the state was prompted by this incident.

From what I've heard, the state-wide shut down had more to do with the number of illegal workers who have been arrested by immigration authorities or fled the state once the crackdown began than any real concern about having "everything in order." One story I've heard is that a work crew of sixty at one of the construction sites was left with only three people.

Frankly, I'm a bit appalled. I'm a Wal-Mart fan, but bringing in criminals to work in our communities isn't the best way to engender support for your business from the citizens.