East Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

United States · East Baton Rouge, Louisiana · 2010 (location generalized to protect survivors)

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.