Immigration authorities conducted a raid Tuesday morning at one meat production plant in Omaha, leading to small protests, though the exact number of affected workers was unclear.
Omaha police and the Douglas County sheriff’s office, informed in advance by immigration officials, helped control traffic around the area where many food processing plants are located as ICE officers carried out the operation.
Meatpacking plants heavily depend on immigrant labor for the demanding work.
While President Donald Trump’s administration has recently stepped up immigration enforcement, the meatpacking industry hadn’t been a major focus until now.
A small group of protesters gathered in Omaha, with some attempting to block officers by climbing onto a vehicle’s bumper and others throwing rocks as a bus carrying workers left the plant.
Glenn Valley Foods’ CEO Gary Rohwer said he was not notified before the raid and there was no warrant presented. Federal agents arrived around 9 a.m. with a list of 97 individuals to be screened.
Rohwer noted the company regularly verifies employees’ immigration status through the federal E-Verify system.
ICE confirmed the raid at Glenn Valley Foods, calling it part of a large criminal investigation into unauthorized employment.
The agency described it as possibly Nebraska’s largest worksite enforcement since President Trump took office, highlighting increased immigration enforcement and border security focus.
The raid caused Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia to leave a meeting to visit the affected southeast Omaha area. Garcia and City Councilman Ron Hug voiced concerns about the raid’s negative impact on families and the community’s economic stability.
Sheriff Aaron Hanson said his department wasn’t fully briefed on the ICE operation’s details but was present to maintain peace and safety. He added his office received respectful advance notice about a week prior.
