Immigration reformers picket local Wendy's

MILWAUKIE, Ore. - Police are looking into a rape at a Milwaukie Wendy’s where the alleged attacker, a Wendy’s employee, is believed to be in the United States illegally.
    
The restaurant owner says he checked out the employee's work documents when he was hired and they looked legitimate.
    
Now, some lawmakers and immigration reform supporters say want more than that level of effort from business owners as well as legal changes for immigration enforcement.

They not only want the laws changed, but they immediately want the owner of the Wendy’s to start using the electronic “e-verify” identification system to check the immigration status of employees.

Protesters outside the restaurant Friday are encouraging customers not to even enter the business until the owner agrees to screen his workers.
    
The group behind the protest is Oregonians for Immigration Reform.
   
Protesters were handing out fliers to customers telling them about the rape that reportedly happened in the Wendy’s bathroom.

Suspect Evanivaldo Alejo Sebastian is believed to be an illegal immigrant.

The owner told KATU News he checked the suspect's work documents and they appeared genuine, but the organizer of the protest said that's not good enough.

"I’m positive that the more people that understand how laws are not being enacted, they'll demand Dave Hunt please do enact these laws,” Rick Hickery said.

Dave Hunt is an Oregon lawmaker who immigration reform advocates claims is stalling two bills that would make e-verify a mandatory - not voluntary - program in Oregon.

Protesters said that until the owner of the Wendy’s starts using the program, they will continue to stay outside making their presence and opinion known.
    
The owner told KATU News by phone that the protest is an unfortunate situation but that he has done everything by law that is required of him as an employer.

Only Arizona and Mississippi require employers to use the federal e-verify system to check a person's eligibility to work.

When the owner of the Wendy’s in Milwaukie hired Sebastian to work in the kitchen, he only had to fill out the federal employment eligibility verification form, based on documents provided to him by Sebastian.
    
The form requires employers to attest the documents "appear to be genuine."
    
By phone, the owner of the Wendy’s said the documents looked real.