Once a cornerstone of job stability in a small Pennsylvania borough, Fourth Street Foods recently ceased operations this fall, laying off more than 250 workers. The closure occurred days after being hit with a civil suit, as well as the impending expiration of Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants, many of whom worked at the facility.
Tough times
The frozen-food manufacturing plant — officially Fourth Street Barbecue Inc. — has operated in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, employing a workforce drawn heavily from the surrounding community. For many families here, the impending job losses are personal and unsettling. “It’s just been a really rough year,” Charleroi Borough Council President Kristin Hopkins said recently.
For a portion of those affected by the layoffs, the closure carries additional layers of uncertainty. Dozens of Haitian immigrants form a significant share of the plant’s workforce. Many came to Charleroi in recent years seeking opportunity and stability, contributing to local businesses and finding a foothold in a region long plagued by population decline.
Temporary Protected Status
The situation for Haitian immigrants is complicated by the temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitian nationals expiring in February 2026. This designation allows Haitians to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation, leaving many in legal limbo and heightening anxiety about their futures.
TPS — which provides work authorization and protection from removal for nationals of countries experiencing crisis — has been a lifeline for many Haitian residents in Charleroi. With high local unemployment outside the plant and few alternative job prospects nearby, the dual pressures of job loss and an uncertain immigration status are fueling fears of displacement and hardship.
Lawsuits on top of everything
Days before the layoffs, Huntington National Bank filed a civil lawsuit against Fourth Street Foods alleging the company defaulted on nearly $90 million in loans and demanding repayment of the debt plus interest and legal costs.
Separately, a federal WARN Act lawsuit was filed on December 10th by a former employee alleging the company failed to provide the legally required 60-day notice before the recent layoffs — potentially entitling workers to back pay and benefits. That case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and remains pending.
Uncertainty lies ahead
Local leaders and community advocates say Charleroi now faces not only an economic setback but a test of its social fabric, as workers and their families grapple with the intertwined challenges of unemployment and immigration policy uncertainty.
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