A $150,000 settlement was awarded to 13 Mexican migrant workers exploited and abused while picking crops in North Carolina, highlighting ongoing issues with the H-2A visa program and prompting new protections for workers.
$150,000 Settlement Highlights Abuse of Mexican Migrant Workers and Ongoing Problems in H-2A Visa Program
According to the report of The Charlotte Observer, in 2020, 13 Mexican migrant workers came to southeastern North Carolina to pick blueberries and blackberries, hoping for better wages and working conditions. However, they soon found themselves trapped in a nightmare of withheld wages, threats of deportation, and even sexual assault, according to a federal human trafficking lawsuit. This week, these workers were awarded a $150,000 settlement. The lawsuit named farm labor contractors Valentino Lopez, Jr. and Gilberto “Beto” Lopez, along with Hannah Forrest Blueberries and Ronnie Carter Farms, revealing severe exploitation and abuse.
The case is part of a bigger problem involving H-2A visa workers in North Carolina. The H-2A program is supposed to help foreign agricultural workers come to the U.S. temporarily with fair wages and decent housing. However, many workers face poor living conditions, unpaid wages, and threats. A 2023 investigation by The Charlotte Observer and the Raleigh News & Observer found many similar cases, with nine federal lawsuits filed since 2017. The Lopez brothers had already been fined and banned from the H-2A program for similar violations, showing the ongoing issues.
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$150,000 Settlement Reached for 13 Mexican Migrant Workers Exploited in North Carolina Farms – A Call for Greater Accountability! (PHOTO: NC Newsline)
Settlement Encourages Migrant Workers to Stand Up Against Exploitation – Spurs New Worker Protection Policies
With this settlement, advocates hope other migrant workers will feel empowered to stand up against exploitation. Marisol Florencio-Gutierrez, one of the workers, said the settlement might inspire others to defend their rights. The farms involved now have to create new policies to protect workers, including a sexual harassment policy and proper reimbursement for fees and travel costs. While this case is a win for these workers, it highlights the need for continued efforts to protect migrant laborers’ rights.
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