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27 amusement park workers fired, will soon be kicked out of U.S.

Posted at 8:22 PM, Aug 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-03 20:22:37-04

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Dozens of employees at South Carolina’s Carowinds amusement park have been fired and will soon be kicked out of the country, according to WSOC.

The employees had work visas and were in the United States legally, but, because they were fired from the local amusement park, they’ll soon have to leave.

The 27 Carowinds employees, all foreign workers, were suspected of underage drinking and running from the police officers in a hotel parking lot.

“I just feel sad because I never thought that this was going to happen,” a 20-year-old international worker said.

Police told WSOC that a large group of people gathered in a Motel 6 parking lot scattered when officers showed up. Police caught up with most of those who ran and said that 10 people – all under the age of 21 – admitted to consuming alcohol.

No charges were filed in the incident.

Some of their co-workers from the United States told WSOC that Carowinds had overreacted and said the foreign workers should be allowed to stay.

According to the U.S. Department of State, exchange program participants have to leave the country immediately if they are terminated from their positions.

Carowinds has not returned calls for comment.