INDIANAPOLIS — Representatives of Tyson Foods met with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita Tuesday to defend their hiring practices in Logansport.
The meeting comes after Rokita announced an investigation into Tyson and Berry Global in Evansville over suspected labor trafficking.
Rokita served Tyson Foods a civil investigative demand. The company has until Dec. 4 to respond formally. But the company requested and was given a meeting with Rokita this week that he described as “positive.”
"What I told them at the end, though, is you’ve got to answer the subpoena,” said Rokita. “I appreciate them doing so. But if everything going on in Logansport, or everything they're doing is on the up and up and legal and the other stuff is just rumors and innuendos, not just tell me about it, go tell the community about it."
Tyson responded with a statement Wednesday:
"Company representatives appreciated the opportunity to meet with Attorney General Todd Rokita to discuss his inquiry, update him on our hiring policies, and share the contributions our Logansport facility makes towards the Indiana economy."
In contrast to the cooperation from Tyson Foods in Logansport, Rokita said that Barry Global in Evansville is fighting the subpoena in court. The company makes a variety of plastic packaging containers. 13News has contacted Berry Global multiple times in multiple ways over the past week asking for comment on the attorney general's investigation. 13 News has not received a response.
Rokita suspects companies are acting as magnets for cheap labor, bringing an influx of immigrants and straining social services in those communities.
The Immigrant Welcome Center in Indianapolis is not directly involved in the investigation, but is concerned about the impact.
"I feel like it really diminishes the work that we in the community are doing, and could really push back on our immigrant neighbors to feel comfortable to integrate into society,” said Maria Yuquilima, marketing and communications manager of the Immigrant Welcome Center.
"I'm just looking for the facts, and I'm trying to get to the bottom of it,” said Rokita. “I’ll report those facts out when I'm able, whatever they are. But to the extent there is a disdain — and I haven't seen that — I've seen concern. I've heard concern and a sense of unfairness, and they're right. It is unfair to our taxpayers here.”
Rokita said his office is looking into more reports of alleged labor trafficking across the state.