Migrant Workers Triumph in $500K Michigan Human Trafficking Case

Case Background

Migrant farmworkers from Guatemala sued a Michigan-based farm labour company and its owners over claims of exploitation and unfair pay. The workers said the company brought them to the U.S. under the H-2A visa program but then charged them illegal fees, took their passports, and paid them less than promised. The lawsuit started in 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. It grew into a class action, representing dozens of similar workers who harvested crops like asparagus and apples in Newaygo and Oceana counties.

Cause

The workers claimed the company tricked them into paying $2,500 each for jobs, held their documents to keep them from leaving, and forced long hours without full pay. They said this broke federal and state laws against human trafficking and minimum wage rules.

Injury

The Plaintiffs described emotional stress, fear of deportation, and financial losses from unpaid wages and fees. Some workers suffered physical strain from 20-hour days in the fields, but the main harm involved lost income and mental anguish from feeling trapped.

Damages

The jury awarded money for economic losses like unpaid fees