Justice Department Accuses Smithfield Unit of Immigrant Bias

June 27, 2011

By JOHN KELL

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against a Smithfield Foods Inc. unit, alleging the company, Farmfield Foods Inc., imposed unnecessary documentary requirements on non-U.S. citizens when establishing their authorization to work in the country.

The department's investigation found that Missouri-based pork producer Farmfield allegedly required all newly hired, non-U.S. citizens and some foreign-born U.S. citizens at an Illinois plant to present specific and, in some cases, extra work-authorization documents beyond those required by federal law.

Farmland allegedly imposed greater and different requirements on non-U.S. and foreign-born workers as compared with applicants who were native-born, the Justice Department said.

The lawsuit charging Farmland with discriminatory practices has been filed before the Office of the Chief Administrative Hearing Officer within a division of the Justice Department.

A representative of Smithfield, which is based in Smithfield, Va., wasn't immediately available to comment on the litigation.

Smithfield shares fell three cents to $21.84 in 4 p.m. New York Stock Exchange trading Monday and were inactive after hours.

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