By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-878105.mp3
Dallas, TX –
A settlement has been reached between U.S. Immigration officials and Pilgrim's Pride, the East Texas poultry processor. KERA's BJ Austin reports.
Pilgrim's Pride will pay four-and-a-half million dollars, and adopt more stringent hiring practices to ensure its workforce is composed of employees legally entitled to work in the U.S.
In return, the U.S. Attorney's office agrees to stop its immigration-related investigations of current and former Pilgrim's Pride employees.
In 2007, 25 "unauthorized aliens" were arrested at the Pilgrim's Pride plant in Texas, and charged with misuse of a Social Security account. In early 2008, Immigration and Customs agents arrested 338 undocumented workers at Pilgrim's Pride plants in five states.
The U.S. Attorney says Pilgrim's Pride has been cooperative. In reaching this agreement, the company did not admit to any criminal or civil misconduct.