Posted on 08/22/2007 2:22:50 PM PDT by WKB
PASCAGOULA -- A group of Mexican nationals have appealed to U.S. Attorney Alberto Gonzales to investigate their claims that Pascagoula Police Capt. George Tillman and a labor recruiter violated their civil rights when they allegedly kidnapped, enslaved and threatened the workers with deportation earlier this month.
The more than 30 workers entered the country on a H2B work visas and filed a notice today of their intent to sue Tillman and the Pascagoula Police Department on state and federal charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment, kidnapping with intent to enslave, human trafficking and violations of the workers' civil and constitutional rights.
The group is working with officials at the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance, the ACLU, the New Orleans Workers Center for Racial Justice and the Alliance of Guest Workers for Dignity to assist them in the their quest for justice.
On Wednesday, after showing up on the steps of the federal courthouse in New Orleans, the group outlined their allegations. Here's their account:
On the night of Aug. 2, Tillman was in uniform, armed and in his police patrol car accompanied by an unidentified recruiter with Black Hawk when they showed up at the workers' homes.
Tillman, they said, told them that Black Hawk owned them and that they had to go with them or they'd face possible prison time or deportation.
"We resisted," the workers said in a written statement. "But we were forced to pack our bags and get into vans. We were transported to a new location. Tillman and the others packed all 30 of us into three rooms... "
Police kept watch, according to the workers, and the following day the recruiter returned, this time taking mug shots and video footage of them. With outside help, the workers escaped to an undisclosed location in New Orleans, where they've been living without work or money.
They allege Tilllman and the Pascagoula Police Department violated their civil rights along with the other charges.
Pascagoula Police Interim Chief Eddie Stewart fired back Wednesday, saying that none of his officers or any other city employee for that matter had kidnapped, enslaved or violated the civil rights of any of these workers.
Instead, he said, the police officers were simply responding to a call for help when two private contractors got into an argument about who actually employed the workers. Stewart said they simply served as a mediators and went to the scene along with agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement and a recruiter.
Read more about this story in Thursday's editions of the Sun Herald.
ping
“...packed all 30 of us into three rooms... “
Texas coyotes can pack 56 into a mobile home!
Good..sue..you will be shown up in our court system as the liars you are.
Wonder who’s supporting them during their unemployment? The ACLU? Southern Poverty Law Center?
The way the H2B visas work, the employers sort of own them.
The visa is given to a work slot not an individual. Although any individuals filling the work slot must pass a background to make sure they have no criminal record.
If the employer qualifies for 4 workslots and is approved they sign an agreement with INS.
The employer is responsible for meeting them at the border, taking their visa from them, paying at least minimum wage anything above minimum wage can be in the form of housing. When their visa is up the employer must escort them back across the border.
They must have all Futa, Fica and medicare must be deducted from their paychecks and the employer pays a percentage above that because they are H2B visas.
The employer can’t loan them or use them in any class of work that is not earmarked for H2B visas. If they need to lay them off, they must continue to pay them or return them to their country.
So......
No they were, H2B work visas, does not convey immigration status. They are required to return home when job is completed. If not they become illegals.
Yep, but they're suing anyway, hoping to get a few bucks to line their pockets.
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