George's los trabajadores del pollo

Armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents arrested 136 suspected illegal immigrant workers at a George's Inc. poultry-processing plant this week as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Most of those arrested are from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

The management of the poultry plant have not been charged, said ICE spokesman Tim Counts; however, he said the investigation is continuing. Family-owned George's Inc. in Springdale released a statement today saying, "George's makes every effort to comply with all employment and immigration laws.” A George's spokesman declined to comment further or to say how many people work at the plant.

Last week, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals cited the same plant for animal sadism and workplace "accidents" such as throwing live birds against walls, kicking them like soccer balls, and spitting tobacco juice into their eyes. Gary George has not publicly acknowledged the abuses cited nor released any response to the letter dated May 15, 2007.

In 2002, Gene George was recognized as a successful business leader and inducted into the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, which "honors, preserves and perpetuates the names and outstanding accomplishments of business leaders who have brought lasting fame to Arkansas." The Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas sponsors the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame, and Gary George is a member of the UA Board of Trustees.