Wednesday, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation announced that it has reached a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in relation to an investigation on hiring and employment of individuals unauthorized to work at Pilgrims Pride’s plants in the Eastern District of Texas. Under the terms of the non-prosecution agreement, the company has agreed to pay $4.5 million and adopt more stringent immigration compliance programs to ensure that its employees have work authorization in the United States. The parties acknowledge that agreement does not constitute any civil or criminal misconduct on the part of the Pilgrim’s Pride.  In 2007 and 2008, ICE conducted work site enforcement actions at five Pilgrim’s Pride locations. As a result, a total of approximately 338 unauthorized workers were apprehended. Pilgrim’s Pride cooperated fully with the U.S. Attorney’s office and ICE throughout the course of the investigation. As part of the settlement, Pilgrim’s Pride recognizes that its voluntary compliance programs can be enhanced to more accurately identify unauthorized persons who seek or gain employment through identity fraud or other unlawful means.

For complete information, please click: DOJ and ICE REACH $4.5 MILLION AGREEMENT WITH PILGRIM’S PRIDE