Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory

Summary

Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory

The Journal | June 5, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Journal, co-produced by Spotify and The Wall Street Journal, hosts Ryan Knutson and Jessica Mendoza delve into the intricate interplay between immigration policies and national security through the lens of a small parachute manufacturing factory in Asheville, North Carolina. Titled "Deportations Could Upend This Parachute Factory," the episode explores how recent Supreme Court decisions threaten the operations of Mills Manufacturing—a critical supplier of military parachutes—and the livelihoods of its diverse workforce.

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Mills Manufacturing: A Pillar of Military Safety

Mills Manufacturing, led by CEO John Oswald, has been a cornerstone in the production of military parachutes since World War II. With only two companies in the U.S. qualified to produce the MC6 and T11 parachutes, Mills plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of U.S. soldiers during training missions and combat operations.

Andi Minoff [00:22]: "Mills isn't just any factory. They make crucial equipment for the US Military, specifically parachutes."

Under Oswald's leadership for over 27 years, the factory has maintained impeccable standards, where "a single skipped stitch among thousands is considered a major defect" ([01:22] Minoff). This meticulous attention to detail underscores the factory's mission: "to bring troops safely to the ground 100% of the time."

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A Diverse Workforce: The Heart of Mills Manufacturing

The strength of Mills Manufacturing lies in its diverse workforce. Approximately one-third of its 155 employees are U.S.-born, while the remaining two-thirds are immigrants, many of whom hold humanitarian parole status. This program allows individuals fleeing persecution or unstable conditions—such as those from Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua—to live and work in the U.S. temporarily.

William Gonzalez [06:45]: "It's a meaningful portion of Mills workforce. These people all work together and one step is important and one skill is important."

The factory thrives on this diversity, with multilingual signage reflecting the varied backgrounds of its employees, including languages like English, Spanish, Moldovan, Russian, Ukrainian, and Romanian. Employees often participate in English classes and communal meals, fostering a cohesive and supportive work environment.

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The Supreme Court Ruling: A Dire Threat

The stability Mills Manufacturing enjoys is now under severe threat following a pivotal Supreme Court ruling. The court has allowed the Trump administration to "temporarily end humanitarian parole protections for 500,000 immigrants" ([10:54] Minoff), affecting workers from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. This decision revokes their legal status and work permits, plunging them into uncertainty and fear of deportation.

William Gonzalez [10:10]: "My administration has launched the most sweeping border and immigration crackdown in American history."

For Mills, this ruling is particularly devastating. Eleven employees at the factory are directly impacted, representing a significant portion of the workforce essential for maintaining production levels. The complex, multi-step process of manufacturing military parachutes means that losing even one skilled worker could disrupt the entire production line.

John Oswald [12:28]: "We would then have to go and prioritize and work with the government to say, what’s your priority? What do you need us to focus on? Because we can’t, we can’t do everything."

Oswald emphasizes the long-term implications, stating that recovering from such a loss would take years, not merely months.

John Oswald [13:00]: "Oh, I don't think I could recover in a year. It would be difficult to understand what that would do to the labor market because again, we're looking for very, for people that want to come in and work and sell and work in this environment, not everybody does."

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Personal Stories: William Gonzalez’s Struggle

One poignant narrative is that of William Gonzalez, a 33-year-old immigrant from Nicaragua. Originally working at a coffee bean processor in his home country, Gonzalez joined Mills last year through a referral from his cousin. Despite having no prior sewing experience, his dedication and quick learning enabled him to contribute significantly to the production of parachute components.

William Gonzalez [09:16]: "He had five relatives in total that work here."

However, the recent Supreme Court decision has placed his future—and that of his colleagues—in jeopardy. Gonzalez has applied for asylum to solidify his legal status, hoping to continue his work and avoid returning to a country where he fears political persecution and violence.

William Gonzalez [15:21]: "So pretty much the biggest fear is to go back. Because whenever they go back, it sounds like they investigate them whenever they get there. And if they participate in anything that it was pretty much against the government, they may ended up in jail or they don't know what else they do."

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Broader Implications: The National Impact

The ramifications of the Supreme Court's decision extend beyond Mills Manufacturing. Numerous companies, both large and small, that rely on workers with humanitarian parole are now facing similar crises. Employers like Amazon, GE, Marriott, Eli's Cheesecake, and Goodwin Living are all on tenterhooks as they navigate the uncertainty surrounding their workforce.

William Gonzalez [13:54]: "Lots and lots and lots. You have big companies that employ people through these kinds of programs. You have small employers that employ people through these kinds of programs. They are scattered all across the country."

This widespread impact highlights the critical role that immigrant workers play in essential industries, from manufacturing and technology to hospitality and services. The potential disruption threatens not only individual businesses but also national security, given the importance of products like military parachutes.

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Conclusion: The Looming Crisis

As Mills Manufacturing grapples with the impending loss of its immigrant workforce, the broader narrative underscores a national policy crisis. The factory's struggle is a microcosm of the challenges faced by employers and workers alike in the wake of stringent immigration policies. The safety of U.S. troops and the stability of critical supply chains hang in the balance as "The Journal" sheds light on this urgent issue.

Andi Minoff [15:44]: "But last week, Gonzalez's future at Mills got more complicated. That's after the break."

In the face of these developments, Mills remains committed to its mission of producing reliable parachutes, but the path forward remains fraught with uncertainty.

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Listen to the full episode on Spotify or your preferred podcast platform to explore the human stories behind national policies and their far-reaching consequences.

Transcript

[Andi Minoff]

A couple months ago, our colleague Ruth Simon took a trip to Asheville, North Carolina to tour a factory there.

[John Oswald]

I've got a five minute tour and a five hour tour and everything in between.

[Ruth Simon]

Okay, I'll take, I'll take the in between.

[Andi Minoff]

Ruth is being led around the factory by John Oswald, CEO of Mills Manufacturing. Mills isn't just any factory. They make crucial equipment for the US Military, specifically parachutes. When a soldier jumps out of a plane, whether on a training mission or in combat, there's a good chance they're trusting a Mills parachute to carry them safely to the ground.

[John Oswald]

And if you have any questions or you're curious about anything, don't hesitate to stop.

[Ruth Simon]

I'm fascinated. I'm just trying to take it all in.

[Andi Minoff]

Overhead, fluorescent lights illuminate rows of workstations covered with fabrics, straps and thread. There are hundreds of sewing machines in the Mills factory operated by employees who painstakingly cut and stitch each piece of each parachute.

[Ruth Simon]

So how many steps to make a parachute?

[John Oswald]

Oh, so on this particular one, there's 27 steps.

[Andi Minoff]

A single skipped stitch among thousands is considered a major defect. Throughout the factory, signs spell out the company's mission to bring troops safely to the ground 100% of the time.

[Ruth Simon]

And it's. And your signs are all in. Oh, you have it.

[William Gonzalez]

Wait, so you have multiple languages. So English, Spanish, Moldovan and Russian.

[John Oswald]

But we also speak. We also speak Ukrainian and Romanian.

[Andi Minoff]

Mills signage is multilingual to reflect its workforce. A third of the factory's 155 employees are US born. The rest are immigrants. And dozens of them are here in the US under an immigration status called humanitarian parole. It's a status that has come under fire from the Trump administration. And that's putting the Mills factory, its workers, and its ability to keep making parachutes at risk. Welcome to the Journal, our show about money, business and power. I'm Andi Minoff. It's Thursday, June 5th. Coming up on the show, these workers make parachutes for the military. Now they fear deportation.

[US Bank]

This episode is brought to you by US Bank. With US bank business essentials, you get more than just a bank. You get a dedicated partner that provides you a powerful combo of checking and card payment processing with quick access to the money you've earned, proving that there's nothing as powerful as the power of us. Visit usbank.com today to learn more. Member FDIC Copyright 2025 US Bank.

[Andi Minoff]

Mils Manufacturing has been making parachutes since World War II. It's one of just two companies in the US that are qualified to make the MC6 and the T11 the military's main personnel parachutes.

[William Gonzalez]

I had no idea what went into making a parachute for the military.

[Andi Minoff]

This week, I chatted with Ruth about her visit to Mills.

[William Gonzalez]

There is so little margin for error. So, like, if there is a flaw in one of these parachutes, the consequences could be really severe and very, very tragic. You're talking about people's lives who are at stake.

[Andi Minoff]

The man in charge of this tricky production is the one who was touring Ruth around. John Oswald.

[John Oswald]

Good morning.

[Ruth Simon]

Morning.

[Andi Minoff]

He has short salt and pepper hair, a calm demeanor, and knows this factory ins out. Oswald's been the CEO of Mills for 16 years, but he's worked there for even longer.

[Ruth Simon]

You've been here for how many years?

[John Oswald]

I've been here 27 years.

[Andi Minoff]

Oswald joked with Ruth that he is one of the few people at Mills who doesn't sew, but he keeps the business running. Back in 2020, Oswald had a problem. Mills was getting more orders for parachutes than it could produce. Oswald needed more workers, but the labor market was tight and his recruiting efforts were coming up short.

[John Oswald]

We just, we weren't able to hire the people. What was going on in the workforce? There weren't people out there looking for work.

[Andi Minoff]

The pay at Mills is decent. Workers can earn up to 20 bucks an hour, plus overtime, and they can get raises for mastering additional skills. But the work is difficult. Training a new worker can take months, and some don't stick around for long. Mills employees cut and sew for 10 hour shifts.

[William Gonzalez]

There are many, many steps to making these parachutes. It is repetitive work. It requires a lot of attention and a lot of skill. And it's not work for everyone.

[Andi Minoff]

But around the summer of 2023, Oswald noticed that hiring was starting to get easier. At first, he didn't understand why.

[John Oswald]

We just noticed there were a lot more people coming in, and the people that were coming in were staying. We would have people that were coming in via referral. We would have people that were coming in just showing up at her door and putting in an application.

[Andi Minoff]

One big reason why those people were suddenly showing up was a policy shift from the White House.

[Trump Administration]

Now the Biden administration has promised to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into this country.

[Andi Minoff]

Mills started to see more and more job applicants who are in the US through a program called humanitarian parol. It's a special status for immigrants who can demonstrate that they have an urgent need for safety. For example, because their home governments are targeting them or their country is under attack. It's been around for decades, but president Biden expanded it significantly. His administration opened up humanitarian parole for people from Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua. And some of those new immigrants were showing up in Asheville, North Carolina, knocking on the door of the Mills factory.

[John Oswald]

It just kind of happened. We didn't necessarily go and say, oh, Lindsay, go and tap into this community. We kind of found each other organically. Naturally.

[Andi Minoff]

Mills workforce has been diverse for decades, with about a third of its employees coming from the US A third from eastern Europe, and a third from Latin America. Today, dozens of Mills immigrant employees are on humanitarian parole.

[Ruth Simon]

What's been the most difficult parts of making that United nations work?

[John Oswald]

Oh, the language barrier is a challenge.

[Andi Minoff]

Oswald says employees use Google Translate to communicate. Multilingual staff members often double as interpreters on the factory floor. Many of Mills employees gather each Friday for a two hour English class, and they share meals together a few times a year.

[Ruth Simon]

I want to come to the potluck.

[John Oswald]

Huh?

[Ruth Simon]

I want to come to the potluck dinner.

[John Oswald]

They are pretty impressive.

[Andi Minoff]

During her visit to the Mills factory, Ruth spent part of the day posted up in a small conference room. There, she met with some employees, including a sewer from Nicaragua.

[William Gonzalez]

William.

[William]

And your last name is William?

[John Oswald]

Yeah.

[William]

Gonzalez.

[Andi Minoff]

William Gonzalez is 33. Back in Nicaragua, he worked at a coffee bean processor. As his comment at Mills, his co worker helped translate.

[Ruth Simon]

And why did you come here?

[William]

Por que venustia qui? El patastados unidos.

[John Oswald]

Okay.

[William Gonzalez]

Senos presento la opportunidad de venidaqui porromedo del parol.

[William]

So they have the opportunity to come by the parole program.

[Andi Minoff]

In 2018, Gonzalez participated in a government protest While he was a student in Nicaragua. That year, hundreds of people were killed while demonstrating against the country's former president.

[William]

So pretty much whenever the protest was going on, what he saw, it was pretty much a lot of violence from the police against the people that was doing that. So that made him fear to participate again.

[Ruth Simon]

And how did you find this job?

[William]

Common contrast. So he had already a cousin working in here. So there's five relatives in total that work here.

[Andi Minoff]

When Gonzalez joined Mills last year, he had no sewing experience, but he proved a quick learner. His job is to sew nylon straps, pockets and flaps. These parts are made with thicker fabrics that require more strength to maneuver. Gonzalez told Ruth he sees a future for himself at Mills. He's interested in training to become a mechanic.

[William]

Because he's a good learner. He would like to learn that. And he said he already talked to his supervisor about It.

[Andi Minoff]

But last week, Gonzalez's future at Mills got more complicated. That's after the break.

[William Gonzalez]

My administration has launched the most sweeping.

[John Oswald]

Border and immigration crackdown in American history.

[Andi Minoff]

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order calling for the end of humanitarian parole programs for four Latin American countries. The administration said that humanitarian parole programs were always meant to be short lived and that the Biden administration used them too broadly to protect immigrants from deportation. That executive order was paused by a federal court. But then last week, the Supreme Court has just cleared the Trump administration to temporarily end humanitarian parole protections for 500,000 immigrants.

[Trump Administration]

This ruling will allow the Trump administration to terminate their parole, legal status, and also their work permits that have allowed them to live and work in the US Legally.

[Andi Minoff]

About half a million immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua have lost their legal status as a result of the Supreme Court's move. Many have pending applications for other immigration statuses they hope will protect them from deportation.

[William Gonzalez]

And so that's creating a lot of anxiety and a lot of confusion among workers and their employers. And everyone's trying to figure it out.

[Andi Minoff]

Including at the mills parachute factory, 11 employees are from countries directly impacted by Friday's Supreme Court order.

[William Gonzalez]

It's a meaningful portion of, of Mills workforce. These people all work together and one step is important and one skill is important.

[Andi Minoff]

It sounds like you take one person out of that production line and you're not just gonna, gonna miss them, but the people on who are connected to them in the process are also gonna have problems.

[William Gonzalez]

You can't just say, we're gonna bring someone new in, even if you can find them, and they're gonna be able to like, step in and fully do the job right away.

[Andi Minoff]

Mills CEO John Oswald told Ruth on her tour that if Mills loses its employees on humanitarian parole, the company might struggle to fill the military's parachute orders.

[John Oswald]

We would then have to go and prioritize and work with the government to say, what, what's your priority? What do you need us to focus on? Because we can't, we can't do everything. And then we would have to start over and try and rebuild the workforce in other ways. But it would take us a long time to recover.

[Ruth Simon]

I mean, do you think, would it take a year, five years, two years?

[John Oswald]

Oh, I mean, to recover from that? It would, oh, I don't think I could recover in a year. It would be difficult to understand what that would do to the labor market because again, we're looking for very, for people that want to come in and work and sell and work in this environment, not everybody does.

[Andi Minoff]

You spoke with John Oswald just briefly after the courts move last week. How did he seem? How was he thinking about all of this?

[William Gonzalez]

I think he's very concerned about the impact of these changes in immigration policies on his business, but also on the people who work there. And he kept saying that to me.

[Andi Minoff]

How many other employers like Mills could this court move impact?

[William Gonzalez]

Lots and lots and lots. You have big companies that employ people through these kinds of programs. You have small employers that employ people through these kinds of programs. They are scattered all across the country.

[Andi Minoff]

Workers on humanitarian parole work at companies like Amazon, GE and Marriott and at smaller employers like Eli's Cheesecake in Chicago and Goodwin Living, which runs senior living communities in the D.C. area. And what about William Gonzales? What could this ruling mean for him?

[William Gonzalez]

I haven't spoken to William since this decision came down, but I know he wants to stay here. He wants to work here. He wants to work here legally and he's trying to figure out how to keep his status solid.

[Andi Minoff]

One way he's trying to do that is by applying for asylum, which if granted, would allow him to remain lawfully in the U.S. gonzalez submitted his application for asylum a few months ago, back when Trump returned to the White House. Most of Mills employees impacted by last week's decision have also applied for asylum. What Gonzalez doesn't want to do is go back to Nicaragua. When Ruth was at the factory, he told her he was afraid of what might happen to him if he returned.

[William]

So pretty much the biggest fear is to go back. Because whenever they go back, it sounds like they investigate them whenever they get there. And if they participate in anything that it was pretty much against the government, they may ended up in jail or they don't know what else they do.

[Andi Minoff]

Gonzalez is weighing his options, but for now, he's still coming to work, still sewing the parachutes. That'll keep U.S. troops safe. That's all for today. Thursday, June 5th. The Journal is a co production of Spotify and the Wall Street Journal. If you like the show, follow us on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. We're out every weekday afternoon. Thanks for listening. See you tomorrow.