7 replies to this topic

[TimG]

Have any of you guys been raided? Has anyone updated their regulatory inspection document or made a completely different PnP to address the possibility of an ICE raid?

When I worked on the port the Port Authority as well as ATF (I think they were ATF...) could show up like the Spanish Inquisition and didn't sign visitor stuff, didn't put on hairnets, basically told us they didn't care about our food safety rules, nor were we allowed to accompany them through their inspections of our facility. I put all of this in my regulatory inspection document just so it was covered (inspect product after they leave and all that jazz).

Anyway, has anyone had any 'visits'?

[G M]

Just a couple days where half the team members didn't show up because there was a rumor one was going to happen.

[GMO]

Wow.  So different in the UK.  If you don't have the proof someone has the ability to work here the penalties for employers are huge.  As the employer you can be imprisoned for up to 5 years and have an unlimited fine.  It focuses the mind... When you apply for a job even as an obviously British person you have to bring in ID (normally a passport) which is then checked against government records through an automated system using the facial recognition software.

 

Not saying it couldn't be circumvented.  It will happen I'm sure but it's tough.  It's normally the likes of nail salons or restaurants who get found out here.  Not factories, warehouses etc.  It's far more bother than it's worth.

[TimG]

Wow.  So different in the UK.  If you don't have the proof someone has the ability to work here the penalties for employers are huge.  As the employer you can be imprisoned for up to 5 years and have an unlimited fine.  It focuses the mind... When you apply for a job even as an obviously British person you have to bring in ID (normally a passport) which is then checked against government records through an automated system using the facial recognition software.

 

Not saying it couldn't be circumvented.  It will happen I'm sure but it's tough.  It's normally the likes of nail salons or restaurants who get found out here.  Not factories, warehouses etc.  It's far more bother than it's worth.

 

Oh, we have proof. All of our employees can legally work in the U.S. That doesn't mean an extremely disruptive raid which could affect both food safety and quality isn't possible...

Thankfully for me, I'm in a very small place now in the middle of nowhere, so the chances my facility will be hit are pretty low. I don't think I'm changing a thing for my PnP. 

 

Edit: I am seriously considering using ICE raid as a mock food defense challenge though, just to say 'we've considered the fallout and this is what we would do in that situation' in case an auditor asks.

Edited by TimG, 29 May 2025 - 04:28 PM.

[G M]

Wow.  So different in the UK.  If you don't have the proof someone has the ability to work here the penalties for employers are huge.  ... checked against government records through an automated system using the facial recognition software.

...

 

The legal standard for hiring is through the federal eVerify system, but that system does a pretty terrible job of detecting fraud.

[SQFconsultant]

Years ago I worked in a rather large restaurant in New Jersey and one day there was a raid, about 12 agents poured in all of the entryways - never saw that many people run out the back door at one time, they were jumping over the fence out back - I remember one guy by the name of Hector who was from Columbia yelling to me - I will be back in a couple of month, going home for a vacation!

 

We will be avoiding hiring any non-Americans for our new facility - having just witnessed a large ICE, FBI, DHS and Coast Guard illegal alien operation on the island over the past couple of days here - years past the employer would get nothing but a small fine, however now they can arrest the employer on harboring illegals, which can be a felony - not worth it.

 

The good thing is that those folks here in the states illegally must return to their home countries in order to get the benefits of the soon to be released GESARA funds - they will not receive those here.

[Tony-C]

The only one I've been party to was quite well co-ordinated by the authorities with site management.

 

We arranged a hygiene briefing by my QA Manager for all suspected illegals. The briefing room was then raided as he got the briefing started.

He wasn't in on the raid so got the shock of his life     not sure if he has forgiven us yet! Probably has as he was a good sport and we had a good laugh about it afterwards.

[GMO]

The legal standard for hiring is through the federal eVerify system, but that system does a pretty terrible job of detecting fraud.

 

Daft question but why?  I believe the system used in the UK is the same as used by border control.  The main weakness is someone who looks similar enough to a picture of someone else not being picked up by site employees and as I said, smaller employers.  I suspect longer term facial recognition will come in though to make this stronger still.  

 

That sounds like it needs some investment in the system rather than more ICE raids.