In a bid to hire more asylum seekers, Tyson Foods, America's largest meat and poultry firm, is facing a boycott as it closes plants across multiple states. The company aims to double its immigrant hires to 84,000 this year, by shutting down facilities in Iowa, Virginia, Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri.

Campaigners are urging consumers to stop purchasing Tyson products, pointing to the company's hiring efforts at job fairs in New York, where it offers $16.50-an-hour wages and free immigration lawyers to new arrivals. Critics accuse Tyson of replacing American workers with cheaper migrant labor.

Conservative action group America First Legal has raised concerns about potential legal violations, arguing that favoring foreign-born workers over American citizens in employment is against federal law. The group posted online, "It is ILLEGAL under federal law to discriminate against American citizens based on their citizenship in favor of non-citizens of any kind when it comes to employment."

Tyson Foods has not responded to requests for comment regarding the boycott. The $13-million-a-year CEO, Donnie King, who has been leading the firm since 2021, is now facing scrutiny as the company's closures and hiring practices come under fire. It has been revealed that Tyson has contributed to the campaign funds of President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, according to Open Secrets.

The case sheds light on concerns surrounding immigration in the United States, specifically regarding the replacement of American workers, especially in industries like meatpacking, with asylum seekers and migrants. This is occurring despite record low unemployment in the country.

The recently announced closure of Tyson's pork plant in Perry, Iowa, has further fueled the backlash. The shutdown will result in the loss of 1,300 jobs in a town with a population of just 8,000. Approximately half of the plant's workforce is reportedly Latino.

This is not the first time Tyson Foods has closed facilities. Last year, two plants in Virginia and Arkansas were shut down, affecting over 1,600 employees. In addition, the company announced plans to cut 10 percent of corporate jobs and 15 percent of executives. Plants in Arkansas, Indiana, and Missouri are also set to cease operations by the first half of 2024 due to a slight sales decline.

Meanwhile, Tyson is actively hiring asylum seekers who have entered the US and settled in cities like New York. Job fairs have resulted in the recruitment of dozens of asylum seekers from countries such as Venezuela, Mexico, and Colombia. These new hires are filling positions at Tyson's facilities, particularly where there is high turnover.

To attract workers, Tyson offers starting pay at $16.50 an hour, along with various benefits such as paid-for immigration lawyers and other perks. The company has also invested millions of dollars in immigration lawyers, temporary housing, onsite childcare, transportation, and English classes for its migrant employees.

Tyson's hiring strategy aligns with its cooperation with the Tent Partnership for Refugees, a nonprofit organization. In 2022, Tyson agreed to hire 2,500 refugees under the program and increased that number last year by 150, including Afghan refugees to work in Arkansas.

The boycott against Tyson Foods highlights concerns about Americans losing their jobs to economic migrants, which can lead to a decrease in wages for blue-collar workers. The ongoing debate raises questions about the Biden administration's handling of immigration and the impact on the American workforce.