Stampede Meat’s Sunland Park meatpacking plant was ordered by the state of New Mexico to close for 14 days due to rising COVID-19 cases.
The Illinois-based company is now suing the state. Stampede Meat wrote in a lawsuit that the company had taken steps to protect workers and worked with state and federal officials. New Mexico issued an order Nov. 3 that required businesses which were experiencing four or more COVID-19 cases to close for a 14-day period.
The company argued that President Donald Trump’s Executive Order issued April 28 prohibits state authorities from ordering packing plants to close when they are in compliance with federal guidelines.
“The Stampede Meat closure order also violates the U.S. Constitution and New Mexico Constitution because it has been issued in an arbitrary and capricious manner, absent due process,” the lawsuit said. The company requested an injunction to prevent the state from closing the plant and issuing fines.
