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By FOSS FARRAR
Traveler Staff Writer

Creekstone Farms Premium Beef will close operations Monday to honor its predominately Hispanic workforce.

Monday is a day of national protests against a proposed immigration bill approved by the House of Representatives.

"We really agree with the perspective of the Hispanic community," said Rusty Wright, the company's director of human resources. "We don't like the proposed law, especially building the wall."

He referred to a proposal by the House of Representatives, HR 4437, that makes it a felony to be an illegal immigrant. It also makes it a crime to assist illegals, and such a measure could affect social workers and teachers.

Some Congressional leaders have proposed building a wall along the Mexican border with the United States.

On Thursday, Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate indicated they would support a compromise immigration reform bill. It would allow most illegal immigrants to work toward permanent legal status.

Wright said about 75 percent of Creekstone's 750 employees are Hispanic, and the company decision to close down Monday is to encourage their participation in peaceful protest to HR 4437.

"There is a lot of mixed opinions on this controversial bill," Wright said. "I don't think we mind having our opinion."

Kevin Pentz, Creekstone's operations director, said Creekstone's largest asset is its employees. "When you have 75 percent of our employees who are Hispanic, you have to support that endeavor," he said of the protest.

All applicants for Creekstone jobs are screened through an INS screening system, Pentz said, referring to a computer system provided by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

"It's linked up with Homeland Security, we review their documents and photos," Wright added.

In other words, Homeland Security says any worker hired by Creekstone is eligible to work, he said. All employees are approved by the INS.

"Our industry is similar to construction, hotels and restaurants," Pentz said. "People think the Hispanics are taking away from jobs that could go to other people. But in reality, these are jobs people don't care to have. These are skilled labor jobs, hard work."

It's a big deal to close down the plant for a day, he added. The company must continue to pay ongoing utility and maintenance costs and reschedule trailer loads of live cattle due to arrive Monday.

"We'll have close to 30 trailer loads of live cattle to reschedule," he said. "We'll have to work a few extra hours next week and probably next Saturday to make up for lost production."

Creekstone processes 5,000 head of cattle a week, he said. The company plans to remain at full production next week.