In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a large-scale immigration raid took place at Glenn Valley Foods, a meat production facility located in Omaha, Nebraska. The raid resulted in dozens of workers being detained and transported away in buses, much to the astonishment of company officials who believed they were adhering fully to legal requirements.
The operation, which began at around 9 a.m., took place in a section of south Omaha where nearly 25% of residents are foreign-born according to the 2020 census.
The raid attracted a small group of protestors, some of whom attempted to impede officers by jumping onto a vehicle’s front bumper, while others resorted to throwing rocks at official vehicles. The tense confrontation unfolded as a white bus, filled with detained workers, drove away from the meatpacking plant. Chad Hartmann, the president of the company, relayed the bewilderment of the front office regarding the raid’s aggressive nature and the rationale behind targeting their company.
Concerned and perplexed, Hartmann questioned, “Why us?” stating that they believed they were in full compliance with legal regulations. The company utilizes E-Verify, a federal database designed to confirm the immigration status of employees. However, federal officers claimed to Hartmann that the E-Verify system was “broken.”
Hartmann expressed frustration, pointing out the irony of being raided due to a malfunctioning governmental system. Local law enforcement agencies, including the Omaha police and Douglas County sheriff, were informed about the raid in advance and assisted in managing traffic in the vicinity, which is home to many food production plants.
Meatpacking facilities generally depend on immigrant labor due to the physical demands of the work. Although President Donald Trump’s administration has not heavily focused on this sector in its immigration enforcement efforts, recent weeks have seen an escalation in these activities. Concurrently, the administration has deployed the National Guard to address protests in Los Angeles concerning immigration policies.
The CEO and owner of Glenn Valley Foods, Gary Rohwer, expressed surprise about the raid, stating he was not notified beforehand. Rohwer remarked that federal agents entered with a list of 97 individuals they intended to question. “Of course not. It’s a raid,” Rohwer said, underscoring the unexpected nature of the operation at his facility, known for producing Gary’s QuickSteak.
Estefania Favila, a supervisor at the plant, recounted that federal officials began pounding on the doors during a morning meeting, announcing the raid and demanding everyone evacuate the production area. Employees were divided based on their documentation status—U.S. citizens, those with valid work papers, and undocumented individuals.
According to Favila, approximately 70 individuals were taken away in buses with darkened windows, including two of her cousins from Honduras. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed this enforcement action, stating it was part of an ongoing investigation into the widespread employment of individuals unauthorized to work in the U.S. They described it as possibly the largest operation of its kind in Nebraska since the beginning of Trump’s second term.
In response, Hartmann mentioned plans to reach out to Nebraska leaders, including Representative Don Bacon, to seek clarification and answers. Later on Tuesday, Bacon issued a statement clarifying that the raid was intended to address issues involving stolen identities, and identified Glenn Valley Foods as a compliant victim in the scenario.
Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia, who represented the area, expressed concern over the ensuing fear within the community, as he felt the impact of the raid. “People are asking me if this is going to continue in Omaha or spread to other cities,” Garcia said, highlighting the widespread anxiety among residents.