In 2023, Mackenson Remy drove into a factory parking lot in Greeley, Colorado, despite never having been there before. His main motivation was finding work, as he heard the location offered plenty of jobs.

Originally from Haiti, Remy had been sharing TikTok videos about job opportunities in the area, mainly targeting fellow Haitians. Unaware, he had accidentally entered the premises of a meatpacking plant owned by JBS, the world’s largest meat producer. His outdoor video about the plant went viral, bringing hundreds of fellow Haitians to seek employment there.

However, less than a year later, both Remy and JBS faced serious allegations of human trafficking and exploitation, leveled by the union representing the workers.

The story has been featured on Reveal, updating a broadcast from February 2025. Reporter Ted Genoways from the Food & Environment Reporting Network examined what has changed for these workers, especially in light of the Trump administration’s aggressive deportation policies targeting immigrant laborers.

The Rainbow Motel in Greeley, Colorado, where Haitian migrants stayed while starting new jobs at the JBS plant.