Migrant Workers and Immigration

Migrant workers are one group of immigrants who often travel through many states in the summer months in order to perform agriculture-related work. For instance, a recent article detailed the 1,400 mile journey that one family had been making from Texas to Illinois each summer for the last 20 years in order to participate in corn detasseling season. Although the summer season offers plenty of opportunities for long days of work, often stretching to 15 hours or more, seven days per week, there are downsides for agricultural workers, as well. For instance, agricultural workers are not entitled to overtime pay and are subject to other work conditions not present or tolerated in other types of work. Children who are as young as age 12 can work in the fields performing the same farm tasks as adults. Living conditions are often dirty and overcrowded for migrant workers, and working conditions are backbreaking and hot. For this sector of the workforce, mandated rest breaks and paid sick days simply do not exist, and salaries average about $20,000 per year. Some statistics show that as many as 50 – 70% of the estimated 2.5 million farmworkers in America are undocumented, or have no legal immigration status. While some employers have increasingly brought in temporary agricultural workers on H-2A visas in recent years, perhaps in response to the federal crackdowns on illegal immigration, even these workers may not complain about poor working conditions out of fear that their employers will not invite them back for the opportunity to work in the future. Therefore, the ultimate bargaining power of this group of employees, consisting mostly of undocumented immigrants and other foreign nationals who are unwilling to questions their work conditions, is basically non-existent. At Landerholm Immigration, A.P.C., we are dedicated to protecting your rights to enter and/or remain in the U.S., no matter what type of situation you are facing. We know how to evaluate your case, explore your options, and provide you with the strongest defense against removal possible. Contact your California deportation defense attorneys today and set up an appointment to speak with our legal team.