UPDATE 1-US Immigration arrests Pilgrim's poultry workers

(Adds company comment, other details)

By Bob Burgdorfer

CHICAGO, April 16 (Reuters) - U.S. immigration agents arrested workers on Wednesday morning at five Pilgrim's Pride Corp (PPC.N: Quote, Profile, Research) chicken plants from West Virginia to Texas as part of an ongoing probe, immigration and company officials told Reuters.

The arrests related to alleged identity theft. So far, no civil or criminal charges have been filed against the company, said Ray Atkinson, Pilgrim's Pride spokesman.

"ICE agents, in close coordination with our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners are making arrests as part of an ongoing criminal investigation at five Pilgrim's Pride plants across the country," Gail Montenegro, spokeswoman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told Reuters.

No other details were immediately available regarding the arrests, but ICE and Pilgrim's Pride said they would make statements later on Wednesday.

Pittsburg, Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride, the nation's largest chicken producer, said it has been working with immigration officials prior to Wednesday's action and has been participating in a program to ensure new hires had valid identification.

There are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States, mainly from Mexico, with others from Central America, Asia, Europe and Canada.

The five Pilgrim's Pride plants are in Batesville, Arkansas; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Live Oak, Florida; Moorefield, West Virginia; and Mt. Pleasant, Texas.