A major immigration enforcement operation at Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, has resulted in a surge of job applicants—this time, legally authorized to work in the United States. Following the arrest of more than 70 illegal aliens during a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid, the plant saw a flood of Americans and legal immigrants vying for the newly vacated positions.
The raid, reported by ICE and covered by Breitbart News, targeted unauthorized workers using fraudulent documents to bypass employment checks. Despite using the E-Verify system, Glenn Valley Foods president Chad Hartmann stated he was unaware of the workers’ illegal status. E-Verify, while a key tool in work authorization screening, can be compromised when individuals use stolen Social Security numbers.
Within days of the enforcement action, local news sources confirmed long lines of applicants at the plant, eager to seize the newly available job opportunities. NBC News reported that every seat in the waiting area was occupied by individuals filling out applications or undergoing training. A majority of the applicants were Spanish speakers, signaling strong interest from legal immigrants alongside native-born Americans.
Historically, ICE worksite enforcement has proven effective in opening up employment for legal residents. In 2009, testimony before the House Judiciary Committee showed that meatpacking facilities targeted by ICE raids resumed full production within months, employing legal workers and often increasing wages to attract and retain staff.
The raids not only remove those unlawfully present but also reset job markets in favor of legal workers. In sectors known for low wages and difficult conditions, enforcement has forced employers to improve compensation and working standards, attracting those who had previously sought safer or better-paying alternatives.
Journalist Jerry Kammer told Congress in 2009 that such raids have had “a profoundly positive effect in the lives of American citizens and permanent residents” who needed those jobs. His assessment supports a growing body of evidence that strong immigration enforcement benefits American workers directly.
