24 Filipinos in Mississippi victimized by recruiters

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Contessa Rita Bourbon

NEW YORK–Twenty-four Filipino workers in Mississippi were duped by abusive recruiters and forced them to pay P 250,000 to work in the U.S. but ended up working in below minimum wage in the U.S.

Through their lawyer Elaine Carr, the 24 Filipinos sought the assistance of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help prosecute the Filipino labor recruitment agency that illegally harassed them.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington , DC, is trying to reach out to the Filipino victims and coordinating with their lawyer.

The Filipino workers' immigration lawyer Elaine Carr said the DHS is now building a case of human trafficking against Z-Drive Agency, a recruitment company in Santa Rosa, Laguna, according to Balitang America.

Lauro, one of the victims, who declined to give his name said the recruiter had promised them to pay above $7 and $10 an hour to work in a resort and hotels, but the Filipino workers ended up working in agricultural fields with a pay of $4 per hour.

Lauro complained that the recruiter confiscated their passports , including their visas, and harassed them to pay their debts. Most of the workers borrowed money to pay the recruiter to work in America.

The 24 complainants have been placed under the government's Witness Protection Program so the government could prosecute the recruiter for alleged human trafficking.

The workers were forced to accept any jobs they could take in the U.S. to pay off heavy debts they incurred to pay the recruiter. "Their families in the Philippines are now being harrassed by lenders," Carr said in a television interview. Carr said the Filipinos would not be deported and cooperating well with the government.

link

Edited August 26, 2010 by El Buscador

[jrmejia 31]

Thanks for the link.

[TravellingNomad 12]

dapat yang mga illegal recruiters na mga yan bitayin eh. they are the type of filipinos who will prey on other people's hopes and dreams and take their victims for all they have. i hope the people responsible are tried and convicted...and sent to one of the supermax prisons here in the U.S. so they will know how to be preyed upon.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

and sent to one of the supermax prisons here in the U.S. so they will know how to be preyed upon.

It would be better if they were tried, convicted and imprisoned in the Philippines. Unfortunately even the worst prisons in the US are luxury accommodations for free compared to how many live in the PH...

[Joan >3 Bob 20]

If this is a True story, I am very sorry to hear about it and for the victms but everyone should know sometimes The Grass Is Not Always Greener On the Other Side Of The (OCEAN) ...Fence. The agency needs closed down if this can be proved and agency employees involved put into jail.

[Darnell 8,478]

well that's one recruiting agency.

There are a few thousand others (that put Phils ppl worldwide, not just in USA) who haven't got caught yet.

Ouch.

Edited August 27, 2010 by Darnell

[TravellingNomad 12]

It would be better if they were tried, convicted and imprisoned in the Philippines. Unfortunately even the worst prisons in the US are luxury accommodations for free compared to how many live in the PH...

unfortunately...they'd still have the possibility to live in luxury in bilibid prison. all they have to do is pay off some CO's over there and they'll be able to pretty much set up their cell as home sweet home.

[Gumbolette 58]

We even have more here in Louisiana, especially in the Baton Rouge area.

Charges are already filed in California where the owner of the recruiting agency is headquartered.

I feel so sorry for them.