After the Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid on Glen Valley Foods, a meatpacking facility in Omaha, Nebraska, there is an expectation of new job opportunities for both Americans and legal immigrants, previously held by undocumented workers.
According to a report from Breitbart News last week, ICE agents conducted a raid at Glen Valley Foods, resulting in the arrest of over 70 undocumented workers.
Chad Hartmann, the president of the company, stated he was unaware of the presence of undocumented workers, as they utilize the E-Verify system for potential hires. However, E-Verify can be manipulated through the use of stolen Social Security numbers, and its purpose is to confirm that new hires are eligible to work legally in the U.S.
An NBC News report following the ICE operation indicated that both Americans and legal immigrants flocked to Glen Valley Foods in search of the newly available positions.
By early Thursday afternoon, every seat in the waiting area at Glen Valley Foods was filled with individuals completing job applications. This was just two days after the factory experienced Nebraska’s largest workplace immigration raid of the year. [Emphasis added]
Many potential employees, notably Spanish-speaking individuals, were continuously coming and going from the plant throughout the day. Some sought new employment, while others attended training sessions. [Emphasis added]
Research conducted over the years shows that ICE raids tend to coincide with increased recruitment efforts for Americans and legal immigrants in the local communities.
For instance, a testimony presented to the House Judiciary Committee in 2009 highlighted findings that after ICE operations at meatpacking facilities in seven states, new employment laws indicated that operations could return to full production within four to five months following such raids.
Moreover, these ICE raids frequently prompted employers in meatpacking industries to increase hourly wages, aiming to attract American workers and legal immigrants who might otherwise opt for safer, better-paying jobs elsewhere.
“I observe that the immigrant raids had a notable positive effect on American citizens and legal residents who sought out these jobs,” stated journalist Jerry Kammer during the committee hearing.
