The usual routine at Walmart changed drastically last week. In stores in Orlando, Miami, and El Paso, hundreds of employees disappeared from work rosters overnight.
This has caused surprise and concern among customers, workers, and experts. What's happening?
Mass layoffs after a court decision
The origin of this crisis dates back to May 30, when the Supreme Court struck down a humanitarian parole program. This program, created under the previous administration, allowed more than 500,000 migrants from countries such as Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba to work legally while they waited for their immigration paperwork.
With the annulment, these workers lost their work permits immediately. The Department of Homeland Security ordered companies, including Walmart, to act quickly to avoid fines. The chain, which is the largest private employer in the country, had to lay off or suspend all affected employees.
The impact on stores and customers
The effects were quickly noticeable. Many managers had to spend hours reviewing documents to identify who needed to be laid off.
In several supermarkets, entire restocking and cashier teams disappeared. This led to long lines, empty aisles, and less attention for shoppers. The employees who remained had to take on longer shifts and tasks outside their specialty.
For example, older workers were assigned to lift heavy boxes or restock merchandise, which led to complaints and concerns about workplace safety. Customers reacted with surprise on social media, commenting on the differences in service and the lack of products in certain aisles.
The complicated legal task for Walmart
Walmart faces a complicated dilemma. It can't employ people without valid permits, but laying them off without due process could result in accusations of discrimination. In addition, the visa code canceled by the Supreme Court is the same one used by other legal programs, making it difficult to identify who is affected by the ruling.
This problem forces every employment file to be reviewed manually, a huge task for a company with hundreds of employees per store.
What's next for Walmart and its workers?
The shortage of workers is already a problem in many regions, especially in sectors such as retail and hospitality. The mass layoffs at Walmart could worsen this situation, raising wages and, consequently, prices for consumers.
Walmart is betting on automation to reduce the pressure on its employees. By the end of 2025, it plans to implement robots and semi-autonomous machines to help with routine tasks. However, these technologies can't replace the attention and service that only a human can provide.
Meanwhile, Walmart has offered legal support and relocation bonuses to affected employees. Also, lobbyists are pushing for Congress to pass a legislative solution before the summer recess, although the current political landscape makes an agreement unlikely.