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TASKFORCE IN NEBRASKA EVALUATES OPERATION VANGUARD
Last year the meatpacking industry, a large part of which is based in Nebraska, was investigated by the INS.  Operation Vanguard was designed to identify those working in the industry that lacked proper work authorization.  The program drew criticism from almost every group it affected – employers argued it made it more difficult for them to retain workers, and immigrant rights advocates argued that it unfairly singled out Hispanics, who make up the bulk of the industry’s workforce.  The impact of the program was so great that the governor of Nebraska set up a taskforce to evaluate it.  The group is about to finish its work and has begun issuing the results of its investigation. 
The taskforce was designed to answer four questions about Operation Vanguard, and each of the answers shows that the taskforce does not want the program to continue in Nebraska.  The first question was whether Operation Vanguard belonged in the workplace.  The taskforce agreed that there should be some way to ensure that only workers with authorization were employed, but found Operation Vanguard ineffective.  They concluded that better verification before the hire is made would be more effective.  The INS touted Operation Vanguard as a way to improve working conditions in the industry.  Whether such an improvement occurred was the second question for the taskforce.  The taskforce found little if any evidence that any improvements had occurred because of Operation Vanguard.  The taskforce was also told to examine the impact of the INS program on the state’s livestock industry.  They found that it had lowered livestock prices and created delays in processing.  Finally, the taskforce investigated the impact of Operation Vanguard on area communities and found that it increased the reliance of Hispanic communities on social services. 
The taskforce is scheduled to issue its final report next month.  This report is expected to call for the end of Operation Vanguard.  Regardless of the position of the taskforce, the decision on what to do with Operation Vanguard belongs solely to the federal government.