People call for a boycott of Tyson Foods because the company plans to hire many asylum seekers. This news comes from Tyson Foods closing several chicken and meat processing plants, including those in Iowa, Virginia, and Arkansas, affecting over 2,000 workers.
The company has started hiring immigrants, offering them the help of immigration lawyers. The boycott supporters are worried that these immigrants are taking jobs that could go to Americans, especially in lower-paying positions.
Reports also show a drop in the number of Americans born in the country working in these kinds of jobs.
Boycott Calls Rise Over Tyson Foods Hiring Plan
America First Legal, along with numerous campaigners, is urging a boycott of Tyson Foods and its products. This comes after the company shut down several of its poultry and meat processing plants in Iowa, Indiana, Virginia, Arkansas, and Missouri.
The reason for these closures is Tyson's plan to hire thousands of asylum seekers in New York, which has sparked significant controversy.
Critics accuse Tyson of closing its facilities to replace American workers with cheaper migrant labor. America First Legal, a group started by former officials from the Trump administration, has spoken out against Tyson's actions, claiming they are against the law.
The group made its stance clear online, stating, "It is ILLEGAL under federal law to discriminate against American citizens in favor of non-citizens of any kind regarding employment."
Currently, Tyson Foods has not responded to these allegations or commented on its decision to hire more migrant workers.
Tyson employs over 40,000 immigrants in its workforce, which exceeds 120,000 in the U.S. They're looking to increase this number through a partnership with the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a non-profit dedicated to aiding immigrants in the U.S.
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Garret Dolan, who leads Tyson's social efforts division, expressed the company's desire to hire an additional 42,000 workers.
In recent weeks, Tyson has recruited more asylum seekers from Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela following a job fair in New York.
Dolan said that firms like Tyson need more asylum seekers to bridge the employment gap at their facilities. The company offers immigrant workers a starting wage of $16.50 per hour and benefits, including access to immigration lawyers, which Tyson fully pays for.
Tyson Foods Addresses Boycott Concerns
Tyson Foods has stated that it should correct what it describes as misinformation about its hiring practices, particularly in light of recent boycott calls. The company emphasizes its opposition to illegal immigration and proactive use of government programs like E-Verify and IMAGE to ensure lawful employment.
Tyson, founded in 1935 and now employs 120,000 team members in the U.S., asserts that all its employees are legally authorized to work in the country and maintain high standards in its hiring processes.
The statement also addresses the company's partnership with the Tent Partnership for Refugees, noting Tyson's 2022 commitment to hire 2,500 refugees-significantly lower than the numbers sparking recent controversies.
The announcement comes amid backlash from the closure of its Perry, Iowa, plant, which impacted around 1,200 employees due to decreased product demand. Tyson clarifies that this closure and others in the past year are unrelated to its refugee hiring program, countering claims that have contributed to the boycott movement.
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