Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale said it was partnering with the nonprofit law firm Arkansas Immigrant Defense to offer free legal services to its employees and their families.
“We’re proud to be able to support our team members and their families with the help of Arkansas Immigrant Defense,” said Debra Vernon, Tyson Foods’ senior director of corporate social responsibility. “This program will help hundreds of team members with their immigration issues and path to citizenship. We’re committed to continuing to invest in programs such as Arkansas Immigrant Defense, Upward Academy and Upward Pathways that will uplift our team members and the community.”
Arkansas Immigrant Defense (AID) works to help foreign-born people in Arkansas get lawful permanent immigration status. AID said the program with Tyson Foods could save the company’s employees more than $250,000 in legal service fees.
The program will provide consultations to Tyson Foods employees at the company’s facilities in Berryville and Green Forest.
“AID has been providing pro bono legal services to immigrant and refugee children for years,” said Stephen Coger, executive director of AID. “Tyson’s immense generosity will expand our free legal services to include refuge and immigrant hourly team members in Green Forest and Berryville.
“This means that hundreds of our immigrant neighbors, people who are truly the backbone of our economy and food supply, will be getting free legal help: Karen refugees, Marshall Islanders, Latinx immigrants, and more. This is extra important in an area that is truly a desert when it comes to immigration legal services.”
