Overview
- The New York Times published a report on Wednesday that says Pillen Family Farms used undocumented Hispanic labor as the business grew into a major hog producer.
- Reporters say the practice was an “open secret” at the company, with court records and interviews alleging at least 20 farms hired undocumented workers and some employees used fake IDs.
- A former worker, David Armendariz, told reporters that managers accepted a false driver’s license when he was hired and that many Latino workers at the farms lacked legal status.
- Governor Pillen and his family deny knowingly hiring undocumented workers, and the company says it tightened hiring checks and began using special work visas after Pillen launched his 2022 campaign.
- The story sharpens a political contrast because as governor Pillen has expanded state cooperation with ICE and opened a detention facility called the Cornhusker Clink, and the report could drive greater scrutiny of farm labor enforcement and election messaging.