SPRINGDALE, AR- Tyson Foods, one of the largest food processing companies globally, has gained significant media attention in the last week regarding claims of a new illegal immigrant hiring initiative. This, after recently shutting a plant in Perry, Iowa, laying off 1,200 employees, and five other plants across the country in the last year.
Recent articles outline the company's decision to hire over 40,000 asylum-seekers and migrants, particularly those crossing the U.S. southern border. However, a recent statement from Tyson disputes those claims, calling them "misinformation."
In a statement, the company said, "In recent days, there has been a lot of misinformation in the media about our company, and we feel compelled to set the record straight. Tyson Foods is strongly opposed to illegal immigration, and we led the way in participating in the two major government programs to help employers combat unlawful employment, E-Verify and the Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program."
Despite this statement, the company's human resources leader, Garrett Dolan, recently made comments to Bloomberg emphasizing the dedication of Tyson to employ many in the illegal immigrant community. "They’re very, very loyal," Dolan said to the outlet. "They’ve been uprooted and what they want is stability — what they want is a sense of belonging. We would like to employ another 42,000 if we could find them.”
The controversy surrounding Tyson's alleged hiring practices has not gone unnoticed, with conservatives calling for a boycott of the company amid concerns over preferential treatment for non-citizen workers. Tyson vehemently denies these allegations, emphasizing its commitment to legal employment practices and its participation in government programs aimed at curbing unlawful employment.
"Since being founded in 1935 in Arkansas," Tyson's statement added, "Tyson Foods has created jobs and employed millions of people in states all across America. Today, Tyson Foods employs 120,000 team members in the U.S., all of whom are required to be legally authorized to work in this country. We have a history of strong hiring practices, and anybody who is legally able is welcome to apply to open job listings.”
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley called the Perry plant closure a "great big punch to the gut."
As the Biden administration grapples with a surge in asylum seekers and border crossings, the issue of migrant labor takes on heightened significance. The closure of Tyson plants like Perry further fuels concerns about the economic impact on local communities and the broader implications for the labor market.
Despite the recent statement's claims, Tyson has also started a collaboration with organizations such as the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a coalition of over 400 companies dedicated to aiding refugees in securing employment. Together, they aim to offer opportunities to individuals from the pool of 180,000 asylum seekers who have passed through New York City's shelter system.
As Tyson continues to weather the fallout from its purported hiring initiative, the broader conversation on immigration policy and economic inclusion remains unresolved. With millions of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years and ongoing debates over immigration reform, the issue promises to remain a focal point of political discourse and corporate responsibility in the years to come.
Recent articles outline the company's decision to hire over 40,000 asylum-seekers and migrants, particularly those crossing the U.S. southern border. However, a recent statement from Tyson disputes those claims, calling them "misinformation."
In a statement, the company said, "In recent days, there has been a lot of misinformation in the media about our company, and we feel compelled to set the record straight. Tyson Foods is strongly opposed to illegal immigration, and we led the way in participating in the two major government programs to help employers combat unlawful employment, E-Verify and the Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) program."
Despite this statement, the company's human resources leader, Garrett Dolan, recently made comments to Bloomberg emphasizing the dedication of Tyson to employ many in the illegal immigrant community. "They’re very, very loyal," Dolan said to the outlet. "They’ve been uprooted and what they want is stability — what they want is a sense of belonging. We would like to employ another 42,000 if we could find them.”
The controversy surrounding Tyson's alleged hiring practices has not gone unnoticed, with conservatives calling for a boycott of the company amid concerns over preferential treatment for non-citizen workers. Tyson vehemently denies these allegations, emphasizing its commitment to legal employment practices and its participation in government programs aimed at curbing unlawful employment.
"Since being founded in 1935 in Arkansas," Tyson's statement added, "Tyson Foods has created jobs and employed millions of people in states all across America. Today, Tyson Foods employs 120,000 team members in the U.S., all of whom are required to be legally authorized to work in this country. We have a history of strong hiring practices, and anybody who is legally able is welcome to apply to open job listings.”
Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley called the Perry plant closure a "great big punch to the gut."
As the Biden administration grapples with a surge in asylum seekers and border crossings, the issue of migrant labor takes on heightened significance. The closure of Tyson plants like Perry further fuels concerns about the economic impact on local communities and the broader implications for the labor market.
Despite the recent statement's claims, Tyson has also started a collaboration with organizations such as the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a coalition of over 400 companies dedicated to aiding refugees in securing employment. Together, they aim to offer opportunities to individuals from the pool of 180,000 asylum seekers who have passed through New York City's shelter system.
As Tyson continues to weather the fallout from its purported hiring initiative, the broader conversation on immigration policy and economic inclusion remains unresolved. With millions of encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years and ongoing debates over immigration reform, the issue promises to remain a focal point of political discourse and corporate responsibility in the years to come.
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