Over 100 Americans had their identities stolen by illegal aliens working at Glenn Valley Foods, causing devastating financial and emotional hardships, including loss of healthcare benefits, educational opportunities, and unjust tax burdens.
Key Takeaways
- ICE agents raided Glenn Valley Foods in Omaha, Nebraska, uncovering a massive identity theft scheme involving over 70 illegal aliens using stolen Social Security numbers of more than 100 American citizens
- Victims across multiple states suffered severe consequences, including a disabled Texan losing benefits, a Pennsylvania resident denied prescriptions, and a Missouri nursing student losing tuition assistance
- The company claimed to use E-Verify, but illegal aliens easily bypassed the system using stolen personal information, highlighting critical failures in identity verification protocols
- The raid is the largest worksite enforcement action in Nebraska since the beginning of President Trump’s second administration
- The Immigration Reform Law Institute estimates that potentially 39 million cases of identity theft by illegal aliens occurred between 2012 and 2016
Widespread Damage to American Lives
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation at Glenn Valley Foods on June 10 revealed far more than just immigration violations. Investigators discovered that approximately 70 illegal aliens were systematically using stolen identities and Social Security numbers belonging to American citizens. The victims of this extensive identity theft ring span multiple states, including California, Colorado, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Texas. These Americans have suffered significant financial hardships, damage to their credit scores, denial of government benefits, and emotional distress as criminals effectively hijacked their lives.
“The criminals who stole these identities didn’t just break the law; they upended lives. These victims aren’t faceless statistics; they’re real people who are being denied healthcare and have lost educational opportunities,” said Special Agent Zito.
The consequences for victims have been devastating. A disabled American in Texas had their Social Security benefits disrupted, an American in Pennsylvania was denied necessary prescriptions, and a nursing student in Missouri lost crucial tuition assistance. In Colorado, an American received an IRS notice demanding repayment of over $5,000 due to inflated income reported by an identity thief. These aren’t mere inconveniences—they represent serious disruptions to these citizens’ livelihoods and well-being while illegal aliens prosper using their stolen information.
Security System Failures Exposed
Despite claims that Glenn Valley Foods utilized the E-Verify system to confirm employee eligibility, the massive breach exposed critical weaknesses in our current verification protocols. The illegal aliens easily circumvented these checks by using legitimate, stolen Social Security numbers. This case demonstrates how our current systems are woefully inadequate at protecting Americans from identity theft perpetrated by those illegally present in our country. The raid not only resulted in the detention of over 60 illegal aliens pending immigration proceedings but also opened employment opportunities for legal immigrants and American citizens.
“There have been individuals who have gone on the record recently referring to the identity thieves we arrested last week as ‘good, hardworking, and honest,'” said ICE’s Mark Zito. “These so-called honest workers have caused an immeasurable amount of financial and emotional hardship for innocent Americans. If pretending to be someone you aren’t to steal their lives isn’t blatant, criminal dishonesty, I don’t know what is.”
Five individuals have been charged following encounters with federal law enforcement during the execution of the search warrant. The multi-agency operation stands as the largest worksite enforcement action in Nebraska since the beginning of President Trump’s second administration. It represents a significant step in addressing the rampant identity theft that has victimized countless Americans during years of lax enforcement under previous administrations.
Pattern of Widespread Abuse
This raid in Nebraska is not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern. A similar identity theft scheme was uncovered in 2019 during an ICE raid in Mississippi. More alarmingly, the Immigration Reform Law Institute reported potentially 39 million cases of identity theft perpetrated by illegal aliens from 2012 to 2016 alone. These staggering numbers highlight how illegal immigration directly harms American citizens beyond just taking jobs and draining public resources—it often involves stealing the very identities of hardworking Americans.
The Trump administration’s renewed focus on worksite enforcement and illegal immigration addresses these hidden costs that have been ignored for too long. ICE continues to encourage citizens with information on immigration violations or related criminal activity to contact their Tip Line. With this latest raid exposing the true extent of identity theft by illegal aliens, Americans can expect continued enforcement actions to protect citizens from these devastating crimes that can take years to resolve and recover from.
