Poultry plant execs face indictment

JACKSON, Miss. -- Four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants have been indicted on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the United States in the past decade.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Matt Albence, announced the indictments as the documents were unsealed late last week.

Their announcement happened a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi.

None of the four people from the newly unsealed indictments was arrested on the day of the raids, said Hurst, who is the U.S. attorney for south Mississippi. He said they worked as managers, supervisors or human resources employees. Two people from the unsealed indictments worked at A&B Inc., a plant in Pelahatchie and the other two worked for Pearl River Foods LLC in Carthage.

Hurst said journalists have failed to focus on the American victims of identity theft -- people whose Social Security numbers have been falsely used by immigrants working in the U.S. without proper documentation.

"The simple fact of the matter is, illegal aliens steal jobs of American citizens," Hurst said. "And illegal aliens depress the wages of American citizens."

Amelia S. McGowan, an attorney who works on behalf of immigrants for the Mississippi Center for Justice, responded later: "Trotting out anti-immigrant accusations won't hide that the only theft here is the executives' profiteering off vulnerable workers in unsafe conditions and at inadequate wages."

Albence said last year's raids in Mississippi have brought 126 indictments, 117 criminal arrests and 17 convictions. Hurst said the investigation continues.

The chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said in a statement that he's glad the Trump administration, a year later, is bringing criminal charges against employers and plant managers.

"However, the Administration still has not answered for the cruel and unnecessary family separation inflicted on hundreds of Mississippi families and how it continues to poorly treat immigrants," Thompson said.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announces Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Jackson, Miss., the indictments four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. Thursday's announcement was made a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Matt Albence comments Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Jackson, Miss., after the announcement of the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. Their announcement happened a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announces Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Jackson, Miss., the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. Thursday's announcement was made a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, file photo, Friends, coworkers and family watch as U.S. immigration officials raid the Koch Foods Inc., poultry processing plant in Morton, Miss. Federal officials announced Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

FILE - In this this Aug. 7, 2019 file photo, a trailer loaded with chickens passes a federal agent outside a Koch Foods Inc., plant in Morton, Miss., following an immigration raid. Federal officials announced Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

FILE - In this this Aug. 7, 2019, file photo, handcuffed workers await transportation to a processing center following a raid by U.S. immigration officials at Koch Foods Inc., plant in Morton, Miss. Federal officials announced Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Matt Albence comments Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Jackson, Miss., after the announcement of the indictments of four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. Their announcement happened a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announces Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, in Jackson, Miss., the indictments four executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade. Their announcement happened a day before the one-year anniversary of the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Mississippi. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Iris Villalon, 44, of Ocean Springs, crosses the street as she heads for the Thad Cochran United States Courthouse in Jackson, Miss., Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020, for an arraignment hearing in federal court on immigration crimes and other federal charges stemming from the largest single-state worksite enforcement action last year at a number of Mississippi poultry processing plants. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)