How a city in Nebraska is recovering after the state’s largest worksite immigration raid

OMAHA, Neb. — Every seat in the waiting area of Glenn Valley Foods was occupied with people filling out job applications early Thursday afternoon, two days after the meatpacking plant became the center of the largest worksite immigration raid in the state of Nebraska so far this year.

There are no jobs that Americans won’t do, if the pay and working conditions are suitable.

The scene gave the company’s president, Chad Hartmann, a glimmer of hope amid the chaos that ensued after Tuesday’s raid purged roughly half of his staff …Hartmann had never seen or experienced a raid before. He is finding out in real time that “there’s no playbook” on how to move forward after one, Hartmann told NBC News.

Moving forward, the company president will find that American citizens expect their employers to comply with OSHA and NLRB regulations.  Hartmann will find that Americans expect reasonably safe working conditions, adequate breaks and additional pay for working overtime. 

To compete for reliable entry-level workers, the meat packing plant will need to improve working conditions and hourly pay.  That’s good for the working class and good for Omaha.

Hartmann may also find that he and his company are in some legal jeopardy for knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.