I am a local Hotel owner in the Branson Missouri area.
Over the last couple of years I have noticed a large number of Russian, turkish, Hispanic, and Belezian teens working at the park (and all the others that Herschend Family Entertainment owns or runs including: Celebration City, WhiteWater, Showboat Branson Belle, Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede).in July, while my family enjoyed the park, I decided to walk around and ask all these teens where they were from and how long they had been in the US.
27 teens answered that they were from Russia, Turkey, etc. And were here for a 6 month period of time on tourist visas. I asked how they were able to work as tourist visas specificaly do not allow employment. I was told that they were actually employed by "employment agencies" who provided them with social security cards in their names (fake numbers) and that Herschend Family Entertainment did not check to see if they were legitimate.
After the large number of similiar responses I decided to go to the park office and ask the managers why they hired illegal workers, and was asked to leave the park and never return. I immigrated to the US LEGALLY in 1970 and have worked very hard to get to where I am today and do not appreciate this "American" company who breakes the law for financial gain. I am an American Citizen for 26 years and very proud of the fact, and cannot tolerate those that exploit immigrants.
I am very concerned for the health of people who eat at HFE's parks as those doing the cooking are also on tourist visas (some are true illegal immigrants from Belieze and Mexico) and have not been health screened or have not had proper food handling classes. I am also concerned as many persons working maintenance positions and security speak little english.
My hope is that people will see this and call to encourage HFE to hire AMERICANS who are not ill and who are properly trained, and who are legal to work. For everyone's safety.
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