Columbia Farms settles immigration case

GREENVILLE, S.C., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- South Carolina prosecutors said poultry producer Columbia Farms would pay $1.5 million and improve hiring practices to avoid a conviction for illegal hiring.

The company agreed to have federal authorities monitor hiring at its eight poultry production plants in Louisiana and North and South Carolina, the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported Tuesday.

"Our goal is not to punish corporations and get them to cut jobs. Our goal is to get them to be a responsible corporate citizen. And our agreement allows us to accomplish all of that," said Walt Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for South Carolina.

House of Raeford, which owns Columbia Farms, has already embarked on a "comprehensive overhaul" of its hiring process, he said.

The settlement concludes prosecution of a federal immigration case. Authorities raided the firm's Greenville, S.C., plant in October 2008 and arrested more than 300 undocumented workers, the newspaper said.