Years after initial allegations came to light regarding poor working conditions for undocumented workers at Peco Foods in Louisiana, USA, a federal witness for the investigation is under threat of deportation, despite recent legislative protections. The worker previously alleged migrant workers fear speaking out about serious health and safety violations at Peco Foods, including injuries and amputations on processing lines, chemical exposure and inadequate training for workers, which led to raids on Peco factories, a federal probe and consequent targeting of the worker by immigration officials.

The worker should be protected by changes to immigration rules in 2023 which formalised a process to protect federal witnesses in workplace probes from deportation but advocates have criticised federal agents for being too slow to file relevant statements to support deferred action in such cases.

Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Peco Foods to respond to the allegations of labour abuse and employment of undocumented workers made against the company, and to outline how it ensures workers, both documented and undocumented, are able to access complaints mechanisms and grievance channels in all its factories. Peco Foods did not respond.