May 25, 2020
Are you a TN worker in the US that has faced fraud or abuse at work?
TN work visas grant Mexican and Canadian professionals temporary permission to work in the United States. In recent years, there have been an increasing number of cases of employers tricking both professionals and the US government into allowing highly qualified workers to work year-round in low-wage jobs.
Unfortunately, the experience of Miguel Amezcua Peregrina and of four Mexican veterinarians on a TN visa are only two of many such cases.
Miguel Amezcua sued Seam Group, LLC of Ohio individually and on behalf of similarly situated workers for breach of contract, discrimination, and labor trafficking. The company hired him as an engineer and promised that in addition to working as an engineer, he would have the autonomy to exercise his professional discretion. However, his activities were limited to the responsibilities of an entry-level position .
Miguel was only paid $7.25 an hour, while his American colleagues were paid $80 to do the same job. In addition, Miguel worked nights and weekends without receiving overtime pay and performed the most dangerous tasks without the necessary protective equipment.
The same thing happened to several Mexican veterinarians hired by Kuiper Dairy, LLC of Texas, who were promised work where they would develop and implement strategies to monitor livestock health. Instead, they were assigned manual labor, and they were also paid less than what they had been promised. When workers complained about their wages, the company promised them a wage increase. However, Kuiper Dairy later attempted to have them waive their right to a fair wage. When the veterinarians refused, Kuiper Dairy retaliated, firing two and refusing to renew another's visa. Two months ago, these veterinarians filed a lawsuit against Kuiper Dairy with the support of CDM.
If you identify with these stories, you could be receiving illegal treatment. Centro de los Derechos del Migrant (CDM) can evaluate your options and offer you free and confidential legal advice. Our telephone numbers are:
MX: 800 590 1773
EU: 51 855 234 9699
Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.