America First Legal Accuses Tyson Foods of Discrimination
America First Legal (AFL), a nonprofit founded by former Trump administration officials, has accused Tyson Foods of discriminating against American residents by favoring the employment of immigrants, especially children, and people in the country illegally. The charges were presented in letters to the US Department of Justice, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and an Iowa civil rights organization, seeking probes into the meatpacking company’s employment procedures.
Allegations Against Tyson Foods
- Tyson Foods employs 42,000 foreign workers, more than one-third of its US workforce.
- The company actively participates in recruitment programs that target immigrants.
- Over half of all meatpacking workers in the United States are immigrants, significantly higher than the national average for all industries.
Leadership of AFL
Stephen Miller, a former top adviser to President Donald Trump known for his strict immigration views, leads AFL. The board includes Matthew Whitaker, the former Acting Attorney General of the United States, and several staff lawyers from the Trump administration’s Justice Department.
Response from Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods responded by denying the allegations, stating that the company does not discriminate against Americans in favor of hiring immigrants. The company emphasized its commitment to legal employment practices and stated that all 120,000 team members in the US must be legally authorized to work in the country.
Potential Investigations and Outcomes
The Justice Department, the EEOC, and the Iowa agency have the option to investigate the accusations. If they find merit in the claims, they could reach a settlement with Tyson or pursue legal action.
Previous Actions by AFL
AFL has filed over 30 complaints, primarily with the EEOC, against large US companies for alleged discrimination in diversity programs. The case against Tyson marks AFL’s first accusation of bias against American workers.
The EEOC has not provided any comments on the allegations made by AFL.
