August, 2019
LOS ANGELES, CA – The United Latinos of The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) International Union released the following statement in response to the raids conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Mississippi of a Koch Foods Inc. plant in Morton and a Peco Foods Inc. plant in Canton. Both plants are represented by the UFCW.
On August 7, 2019, U.S. Immigration officials raided seven Mississippi chicken processing plants, arresting 680 mostly Latino workers. This is the largest workplace raid in at least a decade and the largest single-state raid in U.S. history. Two of the plants raided, Koch Foods Inc. plant in Morton and Pico Foods Inc. plant in Canton are both represented by UFCW Local 1529. 
The grotesque actions of the Trump Administration remain ruthless and heartless. Yesterday’s massive raid has torn apart hardworking families who toil in our food service plants to nurture our nation through the food they produce. Those workers, our members, merit the utmost respect. The workers in these food processing plants deserve the right to due process and to be treaded with dignity and justice. 

“We must stand with the families in Mississippi and our UFCW family to demand and end to family separation, enough is enough.Trump’s administration blatantly continues to  dehumanize our communities and belittle the labor of immigrants. In these times we can either idly stand by or do what the Labor Movement does best — organize. We must organize to mobilize, educate, and empower our members, and their families, and their communities.”  – Rigoberto Valdez Jr., President of the United Latinos of the UFCW  
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To directly support those on the ground please donate to UFCW Local 1529’s Strike and Emergency Fund. Address the check to UFCW Local 1529 Strike and Emergency Fund and mail in your check: 
UFCW Local 1529
8205 Macon Road 
Cordova, TN 38018 
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We must remain vigilant and prepared. The best way to be a resource to our members is by empowering them with their rights. It is more important than ever for workers and community members to know their rights. We urge you to continue to share widely the United Latinos list of Raid Preparedness and Immigration resources

For your convenience and easy access all our Raid Preparedness and Immigration resources are available through our United Latinos app. Download for free through the APPSTORE and PLAY STORE. 
In Solidarity, 
The United Latinos of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union