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Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). We don’t have a verifiable source on file yet. Know one?
What happened
Yes, unknown how it happened; lawsuit was filed by victims against perpetrators. A Federal Judge in California refused to drop trafficking charges.
Response and intervention
Unknown if law enforcement was involved. Legal Services Southern Poverty Law Center 350 teachers began arriving in 2007 through 2010. Perpetrators charged victims $5,000 - $5,500 recruitment fee. Perpetrators fraudulently tricked victims into believing fee was all or nearly all of their obligation to recruiting agency. After victims arrived in U.S. agency informed victims a much larger fee was owed which amounted to 30% of annual income plus cost of airfare totally $16,000. Victims passports and H-1B visas were confiscated and were threatened with deportation by recruitment agency if they complained. The teachers eventually organized collectively for better conditions however, they were retaliated against by the defendants.