Immigrants Ponder Future After Tyson Closure

NORFOLK, Neb. February 20, 2006 -- Abdirahman Dirir says his future and those of other Somali immigrants are uncertain after the shutdown of the Tyson Fresh Meats processing plant.

Dirir opened his Duco Grocery on Feb. 1, less than three weeks before news of the closure came out.

"If my community is gone, I can’t stay here," he said.

Norfolk lost about 1,300 jobs when the plant closed Friday. Tyson said the closings are part of an effort to become more efficient and most of the work will move to the company's expanded plant in Dakota City, Neb.

Norfolk is home to hundreds of Somalians, many of whom worked at the Tyson plant.

"We like this city and the people of Norfolk. It’s a very nice place," Dirir said. "If we get another job, we will not move."

Ahmed Hashi, owner of Ayan Cafe and Game Room in Norfolk, agrees. He said he wants to stay in Norfolk but knows that might not be possible.

Hashi said he relies on business from the Somali, Ethiopian and Sudanese community.

"They are my customers. I will go wherever they go," Hashi said. "I will follow them like a wagon train."

The only silver lining is that news of Tyson's closure came before he started work expanding and renovating the kitchen at Ayan Cafe next month.

"I consider myself lucky because I didn’t spend that money," Hashi said. "That will help me establish my business somewhere else."

Hashi said he would like to see other Norfolk employers adopt more diverse hiring practices so people of other ethnicities could stay in the community.

"I believe the immigrants were very good to Norfolk and Norfolk was good to them," he said.

He said many Somalis hope new jobs open in Norfolk.

"Wed love to stay in Norfolk, but what they believe is God is the one who will provide for them," he said. "If not in Norfolk, then someplace else."

Other ethnic business owners also are concerned about the impact of Tyson's closing.

Dalila Benevidas, owner of Dalilas Beauty Salon in downtown Norfolk, and her fiancDe, Vicente Ortega, say they are anxious about Norfolk's overall economy.

"This will affect everyone," Ortega said. "There are people who bought new cars and have loans in the bank. People will start returning all the cars and making bad credit in the bank."

Ortega said Dalilas felt the effect last year when Tyson employees were laid off for a couple of weeks.

"Last year affected us a little bit when they shut down, but not much because people came back to work, but this time . . ." Ortega said, pausing for a deep breath, "I don’t know what’s going to happen."

Source: Muslim Aid, Feb. 20, 2006

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