Federal agents who raided an Ohio poultry processing plant found the company’s workforce included more than two dozen children, most from Guatemala, NBC News reports, in yet another example of companies exploiting undocumented immigrants.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI raided the Gerber’s Poultry plant in Kidron, Ohio, which produces Amish Farm Chicken, at around 9 p.m. last night, asking employees to produce identification and reviewed the plant’s sanitation. Video posted to Tik Tok show some workers feared the raid was for immigration enforcement.
Federal law prevents anyone under the age of 18 from working in meat processing facilities. Locals said minors work the second shift so they can go to school during the day. Officials said they were investigating claims that the minors were being forced to work at the plant by non-related adults who were housing them and taking all their wages.