ICE Raids Could Increase Safety Hazards in Poultry Plants (1)

An Immigration Customs and Enforcement raid that resulted in the arrest of 680 people at food processing plants across Mississippi Aug. 7 could discourage vulnerable workers from reporting safety citations, worker safety advocates say.

Additionally, employees who remain working in the plant could face an increased risk of safety hazards, as “they’re left in a dangerous position,” said Dawn M. Lurie, an immigration compliance attorney at Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Washington.

In the face of this and other raids, advocates are worried about the health and welfare of employees in the poultry industry, as immigrant workers fearing deportation will be ...