Governor’s Farms Hire Undocumented Workers | Lincoln News

0:00Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen built a massive hog operation, Pillen Family Farms, which has reportedly employed undocumented workers for over a decade. This comes as a surprise to many, given his conservative platform and tough stance on immigration. Investigations reveal that at least 20 of his farms have hired individuals without legal status, with some workers admitting to using fake ore. Stolen identification to get hired. The company, now one of the largest hog producers in the nation, has seen its workforce include people who overstayed visas or entered the country. Without authorization? Court records show a pattern of workers being charged with using fraudulent IDs, a practice that former employees say was common on the farms. Despite these findings, federal immigration audits at Pillen Farms appeared to be non-existent over the past 15 years. This situation raises questions about the governor's public image, versus his business practices. While Pillen has spoken out against illegal immigration and supported federal deportation

1:02efforts, his company's alleged reliance on undocumented, labor paints a different picture. His administration points to Nebraska's role in deportations, but critics argue this doesn't address the employment of unauthorized workers. Meanwhile, the Pillen Family has continued to expand their agricultural empire, with the governor's children now running the day-to-day operations. The company has also recently opted into e-verify, a federal system designed to confirm employment eligibility and claims to have strong compliance. With employment laws, however, a former human resource specialist previously sued the company, alleging they knowingly hired undocumented workers and manipulated records. The ongoing scrutiny highlights a complex issue in states with significant agricultural sectors. Many argue that industries like farming rely on immigrant labor, whether documented or not, to fill jobs that others won't do. This creates a tension between political rhetoric and the practical realities of labor needs in rural economies.

2:03Local news, powered by AI. This is Lincoln News Today. I'm Corey with the story.