Feb 8, 2007 11:09 am US/Mountain
Swift CEO: We Were 'Blindsided' By Raids
by Anna Alejo
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) ―
The immigration raids on Swift & Company plants in the United States in December cost the business $30 million after being "blindsided" by authorities, Swift's chief executive officer said. The CEO said the company tried to work with federal officials before the raid, screening employees under a government program.
Federal authorities arrested nearly 1,300 people nationwide in the raids just before the holidays. More than 200 workers were taken into custody at the plant in Greeley.
Swift CEO Sam Rovit told CBS4 8 weeks after the raid, the plant in Greeley is nearly back to full operation. He said it is not that hard to find people who want to work for health benefits and pay that is twice the minimum wage.
"We think that having gone through this, we want the employees who are coming in the door to be legal, stay with us and we're working very hard to ensure that's the case," Rovit said.
He said Swift tried for weeks to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Rovit claimed the government needed a big raid to hang its hat on.
"ICE obviously didn't have any interest in a collaborative low key way of removing people who are illegal because they wouldn't have had any headlines," he said.
Rovit said Swift followed government rules, screening all job applicants through the federal "basic pilot" program which helps check a person's immigration status.
"You can make your best efforts and still be blindsided," Rovit said.
He feels "basic pilot" failed to detect when a Social Security number was being used in more than one location. The illegal immigrants who were allegedly arrested were using valid Social Security numbers they had bought.
"I think any employer should be highly skeptical of collaborating with ICE on anything given our experience working with the basic pilot," Rovit said.
He added that a couple of years ago, Swift went too far when asking questions to verify applicants' immigration status and was sued by the Justice Department for discrimination.
The special agent for ICE in Denver said he couldn't comment on an ongoing case. Swift has not been charged with a civil or criminal offense.
Eighteen Swift workers taken from the Greeley plant in December faced identity theft charges in Weld County. One person reached a plea deal.
Another man arrested, Pedro (CBS4 has decided to not publish or broadcast his last name), is back at home now, looking for a lawyer who will help him fight the charges and deportation.
Pedro said he worked at Swift for 6 years, using a Social Security number he bought for $200.
"It was terrifying, because it happened so suddenly," Pedro said through a translator. "We were working without hurting anyone.
Chances are Pedro will be deported after trying to build his American dream around a job at the Swift meatpacking plant.
(© MMVII CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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