99% Invisible The New Jungle
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Sep 23, 2025 In this insightful discussion, journalist Esther Honig shares an eye-opening investigation into refugees working in the meatpacking industry in Greeley, Colorado. She recounts Mohamed's harrowing journey from Burma and the dangers faced on the assembly lines. The conversation highlights how meatpacking companies increasingly rely on refugee labor to fill high-risk jobs, especially following the 2006 ICE raids. Esther also delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by resettlement agencies and the long-term consequences of this reliance on vulnerable workers.
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Meatpacking’s High Physical Cost
- Meatpacking work disassembles animals at blistering line speeds and uses sharp tools that cause chronic injuries.
- Research shows about two amputations a week across the industry, so plants constantly need new workers.
Relocation Undermined Worker Protections
- In the 1960s companies moved plants to rural areas to cut costs and escape unions, which lowered wages and safety.
- That relocation created persistent labor shortages because rural towns lacked enough local workers.
2006 ICE Raids Shattered The Workforce
- On December 12, 2006, ICE raided Swift Company plants and arrested about 1,300 workers, removing roughly 10% of Swift's workforce.
- The raids created a sudden crisis that pushed Swift (later JBS) to urgently seek new labor sources.
