Chobani's Push for More Afghan Hires Amid $500M Expansion Burdens Taxpayers and Jobs

As Chobani pours $500 million into its Twin Falls mega-plant - the world's largest yogurt facility - CEO Hamdi Ulukaya doubles down on flooding Idaho with refugees, vowing to hire hundreds more Afghans and others despite local strain.

Ulukaya's Tent Coalition, including Chobani, pledged 20,000+ refugee hires nationwide, with Idaho's Twin Falls site already at ~30% immigrants/refugees - directly undercutting American workers in a state where ag jobs are 24.7% foreign-born.

This "values-based" hiring? It's code for cheap labor that BigAg loves, while Idahoans foot the bill: ~550 refugees resettled since fall 2024 (on pace for 875 in FY2025), draining food/health benefits.

Ulukaya's past threats over refugee support show the playbook - prioritize imports over locals, even as TB spikes and community tensions rise in Magic Valley. It’s time to cap these programs, enforce work authorization and hire locals.