(MONROE, WISCONSIN) A walkout at W&W Dairy has turned a local cheese plant into a national test case over how immigration rules meet everyday work. The strike, which began August 12, 2025, involves 43 mostly long‑term Hispanic immigrant workers and centers on a new E‑Verify requirement set by the plant’s new owner, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). Workers say the policy change makes their jobs impossible to keep; DFA says it’s following federal rules. As of August 21, 2025, the strike continues, with rallies and press events drawing attention across the United States 🇺🇸.
DFA, a Kansas‑based cooperative, bought W&W Dairy on August 1, 2025. Soon after, the new owner told all employees—nearly 100 people—to confirm their legal work status through E‑Verify by August 30, 2025. According to workers and advocates, roughly half the staff resigned right away. The remaining group, many with more than a decade on the job, demanded severance equal to three weeks’ pay for each year of service.
DFA denied the request and, workers say, warned it could call Immigration and Customs Enforcement if employees took protected action. DFA maintains E‑Verify is necessary for legal compliance and says any severance obligations rest with the previous owner.
A sudden policy shift after the sale
W&W Dairy produces Hispanic‑style cheeses in Monroe, and many of the people on the line have built their lives around steady shifts at the plant. They are not asking for reinstatement; their demand is severance, which they argue accounts for the effective loss of their jobs under the new policy.
Workers and supporters note DFA reported over $101 million in profit in 2022, arguing the cooperative can afford to provide fair payouts to long‑serving employees.
The strike has pulled in local officials and advocates:
- Green County Board Supervisor Todd Larson criticized DFA for failing to meet community expectations on worker treatment and severance.
- Voces de la Frontera, a statewide immigrant rights group, is providing legal support. Its CEO, Christine Neumann‑Ortiz, called the strike “an inspiration” and said the workers’ stand shows how central immigrant labor is to the region’s economy.
DFA’s position is clear: E‑Verify must be used and severance is not its responsibility. The cooperative notes that federal law bars employers from hiring workers who lack authorization.
Legal scholars agree that hiring prohibition is settled law. Jacob Hamburger of Marquette Law School explains:
Federal rules prohibit hiring unauthorized workers, but core labor protections—such as protections against wage theft or discrimination—apply to all workers, regardless of status.
He also notes there is no federal requirement for severance; severance is typically a matter of contract or company policy.
On the ground, the dispute has intensified. Workers say managers threatened to bring in immigration enforcement if they acted. Supporters have organized walkouts, marches, and press conferences. DFA denies wrongdoing and points to federal compliance needs. Both sides appear far apart, and workers say they will continue “no matter how long it takes.”
Why E‑Verify at a cheese plant matters nationwide
E‑Verify is a federal online system that compares employee information against government databases to confirm work eligibility. Key points about E‑Verify:
- For most employers, E‑Verify is voluntary; it is mandatory for those with federal contracts.
- Critics say the system can produce database mismatches that cost people their jobs—even authorized workers—because errors are hard to fix quickly.
- Worker advocates warn that sudden, across‑the‑board checks can lead to mass terminations, racial profiling, or family crises if parents lose income overnight.
- DFA and other industry representatives say using E‑Verify is a vital part of following federal law and protecting their operations.
The W&W Dairy strike highlights a broader reality: U.S. dairy depends heavily on immigrant labor. Estimates show more than half of all dairy workers are immigrants, and many lack legal status. When a large employer flips the switch on E‑Verify, long‑serving crews can face immediate loss of income. That risk is even higher for people with pending immigration cases or paperwork issues that can take months to sort out.
These shocks extend beyond the plant gate:
- Employers who adopt E‑Verify can face sudden labor shortages and production delays.
- Communities feel the strain when families lose income and children worry about a parent’s job.
- The supply chain is affected—especially in growing markets like Hispanic‑style cheeses where production schedules are tight.
Worker advocates say this is exactly what is happening in Monroe. Industry groups argue the long‑term fix must include a stable, authorized workforce and clear, consistent workplace rules.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the broader trend is clear: as more companies adopt E‑Verify and federal worksite enforcement expands, plants that rely on immigrant labor will see more conflicts like Monroe. In states where dairy is a major employer, that can ripple into trucking, packaging, and retail. Legal experts expect more disputes over who bears the cost when compliance meets long service on the factory floor.
Stakes for workers, companies, and communities
For workers at W&W Dairy, the stakes are immediate and personal. Some have spent years on the line, earning steady pay and building roots in the city. Now they face:
- Loss of jobs and income
- Fear that public action could draw immigration attention
- Pressure to accept quiet dismissals rather than risk speaking up
The Monroe crew took a different path, choosing a public strike and demanding severance calibrated to their years of service.
For DFA, the stakes are legal and operational. Employers must follow federal hiring rules, but moving fast without transition plans can leave them with too few trained hands to keep production steady. Public backlash can grow when long‑serving workers are shown the door—even if a company’s legal case is strong.
The federal context adds heat. Policymakers have pushed harder on worksite enforcement in industries with large immigrant workforces. If that continues:
- Dairy and other food producers could see more walkouts and short staffing.
- Companies will face more pressure to explain how they will meet both compliance needs and community standards.
- Local leaders in Monroe are already asking those questions.
Workers and supporters say they will keep striking until they reach a severance deal. DFA has not shifted its stance. With the August 30 E‑Verify deadline set, the clock is ticking at the cheese plant, and the rest of the industry is watching.
Key takeaway: Sudden implementation of E‑Verify at workplaces with large immigrant staffs can trigger immediate, widespread disruption—affecting workers, employers, and entire communities.
For official program details about E‑Verify, see U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at https://www.uscis.gov/e-verify.
This Article in a Nutshell
A Monroe cheese plant strike that began August 12, 2025, pits 43 long‑term immigrant workers against DFA’s sudden E‑Verify mandate, raising national alarms about database errors, mass terminations, community impact, and who bears the cost when compliance forces longtime employees out without severance protections.
