Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials reportedly are investigating hiring practices at House of Raeford's Greenville, S.C., poultry plant, the Charlotte Observer reported.

ICE agents have visited two former supervisors, one of whom left the Greenville plant in 2006 and now resides in Puerto Rico. "I told them the truth, that there were workers without papers at the plant," Enrique Pagan told the Observer, adding that he believed management knew that the workers were illegally in the United States.

The other former supervisor said ICE investigators asked him whether the plant's human resources director and complex manager knew workers were illegal immigrants. That supervisor, who requested anonymity, responded, "Yeah, everybody knew."

House of Raeford, however, said in a statement that it takes "all necessary efforts to comply with applicable law, including immigration law."

Though not required, many poultry processors use the Department of Homeland Security's E-Verify program to confirm identities. House of Raeford's North Carolina facilities do not participate, and its South Carolina plant just joined the program in May, according to DHS.

ICE officials would not confirm or deny its office's investigation of House of Raeford.

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