Pilgrim's Pride To Pay $4.5 Million As Result Of
Immigration Investigation
A recent agreement between Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and
the federal government highlights why employers must focus on their
immigration compliance efforts or face dire consequences.
On Dec. 30, 2009, the federal government reached a
non-prosecution agreement with Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, one
of the country's largest chicken producers, to resolve an
investigation involving the hiring and employment of unauthorized
workers. Under the terms of the agreement, Pilgrim's Pride
agreed to pay $4.5 million and adopt more stringent immigration
compliance practices. As part of the government's
investigation, 25 unauthorized workers were arrested in December
2007 at plants in Texas, and approximately 338 more were arrested
at plants in Texas, Florida, West Virginia, Arkansas and Tennessee
in early 2008. See ICE press release, "Justice Department and
ICE reach $4.5 million agreement with Pilgrim's
