Albertville Poultry Plant Ends Worker Busing Amid Social Media Uproar

Local officials in Albertville, Alabama, are addressing the aftermath of social media posts that stirred concerns about the transportation of workers to a nearby poultry plant.

Last week, photos circulated on Facebook showing groups of people boarding and exiting charter buses in Albertville. These images sparked a wave of speculation online, with many questioning the purpose of these buses, the identity of the passengers, and their point of origin.

One post encapsulated the sentiment, stating, "Who knows how many busloads have gone unnoticed? Is our local government too focused on property deals and attracting large retailers to address this?"

In response, local officials quickly moved to clarify the situation and calm public anxiety.

Albertville's police department took to Facebook to inform residents that the buses in question were being used to transport workers.

"We contacted the bus company involved, and they confirmed that they were hired by a local business to shuttle employees to and from work," the department's statement read.

Pilgrim’s Pride, the poultry processor at the center of the controversy, announced that it would discontinue the use of charter buses, despite asserting that all workers met legal employment standards.

"A recent expansion at our Russellville, Alabama facility increased job opportunities. Given the low turnover at our neighboring plant, which has had an applicant waitlist for some time, we hired many of these individuals and provided transportation to and from the Russellville plant. This has been our practice for several months," a company spokesperson explained. "At Pilgrim’s, we maintain rigorous workforce eligibility, safety, and compliance standards."

State Representative Brock Colvin (R-Albertville) shared that Pilgrim’s had previously used vans for worker transport but had recently switched to charter buses.

Albertville city officials also issued a statement emphasizing that the city is not a "sanctuary city," has never received funds to shelter individuals from other countries, and that no elected officials have been involved in such activities.

Immigration has long been a contentious issue in Albertville, a city of nearly 23,000 residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city's economy heavily relies on its four poultry processing plants, which collectively employ close to 4,000 workers. Census data from 2022 indicates that approximately 6,400 Albertville residents identify as Hispanic.

State Senator Wes Kitchens (R-Arab) added to the conversation by publicly addressing a letter to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. In it, he argued that their administration's policies have turned every community into a "border town."

"Our school systems are straining to handle growing student populations amidst a teacher shortage," Kitchens wrote. "Law enforcement is also feeling the pressure from the additional people entering our communities."

Albertville city leaders noted that they had communicated with Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, Congressman Robert Aderholt, and various state and local officials. They described the week as "challenging."

"It is deeply unfortunate that as our students returned to school, they did so in an environment clouded by controversy, baseless accusations, and harmful rhetoric targeting the families of some of their peers," their statement read. "Citizens have the right to question their elected officials and hold them accountable. Albertville city leaders are committed to transparency and diligence in addressing concerns."

The statement further emphasized that the city would not support or condone any narrative or discourse that seeks to marginalize community members based on race or ethnicity.

Colvin expressed his disappointment over some of the comments he encountered online related to the issue.

"Let me be clear—while I am personally frustrated with the policy failures of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and their impact on our community, I will not tolerate the racist and hateful comments I have seen," he wrote. "Racism has no place in our society, and I unequivocally condemn acts of hatred and intolerance."