By Ken Stoll

Once again the spotlight was focused on the growing problem of stolen Social Security Numbers as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in coordination with the Department of Justice and other local law enforcement agencies arrested more than 300 foreign nationals employed at Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plants in five states.

It is alleged these workers committed identity theft and other criminal violations in order to obtain their jobs. So far, 311 Pilgrim's Pride employees were taken into custody during the enforcement action. Charges against these individuals include false use of a Social Security Number and document fraud.

                     

Innocent citizens faced with serious problems triggered investigation

Authorities began their investigation after receiving multiple complaints from citizens who were wrongly requested to pay unpaid tax bills, experienced denial of medical service, damaged credit ratings and even false arrest.

"A significant percentage of identity theft is carried out by illegal aliens trying to avoid detection and gain employment. However, even under the least damaging circumstances, these identity thieves wreak havoc with the credit and tax histories of innocent U.S. citizens who spend years trying to repair the damage," said Julie L. Myers, Department of Homeland Security.

During the investigation, numerous identity theft victims came forward who described to ICE agents hardships they suffered as a result of having their identities stolen, including mistaken tax liens, denial of medical and social services benefits, and damage to their credit ratings.

Some of the victims had been notified by the IRS and told they owed taxes on unreported employment wages. Others had even been arrested on warrants issued for crimes committed by the person who stole their identity.

Simultaneous raids were conducted at Pilgrim's Pride plants in Mount Pleasant, Texas; Live Oak, Fla.; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Batesville, Ark.; and Moorefield, W.Va.

Authorities made it clear that the arrests were not random, and they had proof those in custody were working under someone else's Social Security Number.

"A good set of documents that had the right Social Security Number and right name could run up to $1300," said John Chakwin, Special Agent, Immigration & Customs Enforcement. "It costs you more money, that is more money for the right Social Security number and right name and date of birth. All the documents are provided to you, including drivers license, birth certificate. And they are all counterfeit."

Around 80% of the employees used stolen identities

Domingo Garcia, Legal Counsel  for The League of United Latin American Citizens General Counsel said it was well known that around 80% of the workers at Pilgrim's Pride had fake identification. He also said the plant had to have known about it.

"It's an open secret. Bo Pilgrim wasn't taken away in handcuffs. Why not? Why the double standard? Why go after the employee and not the employer? If you are going to do it, do it right," said Garcia.

Headquartered in Pittsburg, Texas, Pilgrim’s Pride features 37 production facilities processing over 9 billion pounds of poultry annually and is the largest producer and marketer of poultry in America.