Cassville poultry plant pays fine
Raid found 136 illegal immigrants at work.
September 16, 2009

A Cassville poultry-processing plant where 136 illegal immigrant workers were arrested in 2007 has paid a $450,000 administrative fine.

The fine resulted from a work site enforcement investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a news release.

George's Processing Inc. paid the fine Monday as part of a settlement agreement.

"Corporations, like individuals, have an obligation to follow the law," said Matt J. Whitworth, acting U.S. Attorney, in a written release. "This fine, in the aftermath of federal enforcement action and the prosecution of a number of former employees, sends a strong message to the business community. Immigration laws will be upheld, and violators will be prosecuted."

The settlement further directs George's to train its human resource managers and employees on how to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants, and to establish a compliance program to ensure that their hiring and employment practices are in accordance with U.S. immigration laws.

The fine paid by George's does not constitute any admission of wrongdoing by the company, the release said.

"Significant fines help hold businesses accountable to ensure a legal work force ," said John Morton, Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for ICE.

During a May 2007 enforcement action at the George's plant in Cassville, ICE agents arrested 136 illegal immigrant workers from Mexico and Guatemala.

Twenty-eight of those workers were criminally prosecuted for various immigration violations, including falsely claiming U.S. citizenship.

Two of the company's hiring personnel were convicted of harboring illegal aliens and inducing illegal aliens to remain in the U.S.

George's Processing Inc. is headquartered in Springdale, Ark., and employs 4,000 workers at its three poultry- processing facilities in Arkansas, Missouri and Virginia.



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