Research for Lawsuit on Behalf of Non-Immigrant Workers

-ELISA CANNIZZARO
Emily and I worked for the Workers’ Center for Racial Justice on a research assignment to aid lawyers bringing a lawsuit on behalf of temporary non-immigrant workers who were recruited soon after Katrina to come to Louisiana with promises of secure jobs, a place to live, and the ability to send money home to their families. They were all brought over (mostly from Mexico) under the H2B worker visa program which permits unskilled foreign workers to temporarily come to the United States to fill jobs that are not being filled by US citizens.

The problem is that these workers were made promises by the people recruiting them – promises which are not being fulfilled by their employers now that they are here. They were promised at least 40 hours a week at a pay rate of $10/hour and are now working much less time for much less pay. They are supplied with housing by their employers, so half of the money they do make goes back into the employer’s pocket. In fact, the workers live in virtual slavery because their employers have taken their passports after they’ve entered the country and have not returned them, so they have no way of getting home. They aren’t able to send as much money home as they’d thought, and worst of all, they are afraid that if they complain, they’ll be deported.

One sad thing that we learned in researching case law on this issue is that there isn’t any. These abuses existed long before Katrina in other parts of the country, and nobody has done anything about it. A few recent actions being brought in Louisiana are the first steps in helping these workers. One encouraging thing that I learned is that there are lawyers who are dedicating their careers to helping people who desperately need them. It is people like these workers who motivated me to want to become a lawyer – people who are too afraid or too disadvantaged to help themselves. I am thankful for the very small part I played in helping them and hope for further opportunity to aid those who really need my help.