Omaha meatpacking plant owner: E-Verify failed to catch fake IDs

Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, became the focus of national attention last week after immigration officials carried out the largest worksite raid of the year. Within days, the meatpacking plant saw a surge of job seekers, applications in hand, hoping to land a spot on the line. 

Federal raid upends Omaha meatpacking plant

On Tuesday, June 10, federal immigration officials arrested 76 people at Glenn Valley Foods, according to an email from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to NBC News. Following the operation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a news release: “Some had active local warrants, prior DUI convictions and have been previously deported. Many may now face additional federal charges: fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents; assaulting a federal officer; resisting arrest; illegal reentry; and/or misuse of social security numbers.”

Glenn Valley Foods says system failed both workers and employers

For company President Chad Hartmann, the scene was unlike anything he had experienced in his 15 years with the business. The raid gutted nearly half the plant’s workforce, many of whom had worked there for years. Hartmann called the rehiring process painful, comparing it to trying to replace a family member.

Glenn Valley Foods has long used E-Verify, a federal system operated by DHS, to confirm the legal status of its workers. Hartmann said all employees, including those detained, were approved through the system. He told DHS agents during the raid that the company used E-Verify as required, but agents responded that the system is flawed and vulnerable to fraud.

Hartmann told NBC that he is continuing to use E-Verify to fill the positions left vacant after the raid, despite concerns about its reliability.

“That system doesn’t capture a solution if somebody’s got a fake ID. That’s what needs to be repaired,” he said. 

Legal teams mobilize to support detained workers

CIRA, an organization that supports immigrants and refugees in Nebraska, confirmed that authorities are holding 63 individuals detained during Tuesday’s immigration raid at a detention center within the state. Officials have either deported or transferred the remaining 11 individuals to other facilities for processing.

As of June 15, CIRA’s executive director told Omaha ABC affiliate KETV that 56 individuals remain in custody, while 19 others have either been deported or transferred from the facility. CIRA’s legal team will now deploy to the detention center to provide direct legal counsel to those in custody. The organization said it is doing everything possible to help reconnect families affected by the raid.

Nebraska sheriff emphasizes due process

Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer said those detained during the recent immigration raid will stay in custody while officials determine their eligibility to legally work in the United States. 

“I agreed to accept these individuals because we have access to the resources necessary to ensure the process is handled quickly, fairly, and accurately,” Kramer said. “This is about helping people get their status corrected — not punishment.”

He also reassured the public that none of the detainees are considered violent, and that the safety of the community and the facility remains a top priority.

Lasting impact felt within the community 

In the days following the raid, the south Omaha community mobilized in protest, calling for an end to workplace raids and the release of those detained. Normally busy and full of life, the neighborhood’s business district fell quiet. Local shop owners said many immigrant customers stayed home, afraid that simply being out in public could lead to detention.