SlaveryMap

Hudson CO, United States

Moises and Maria Rodriguez, were agricultural contractors who brought illegal immigrants to America and forced them to live as virtual prisoners as they worked off their debts. In this case there were 5 men who were contracted out to a local organic farm. The men were held in debt bondage - Rodriguez contended that each man owed him money for smuggling them into the U.S. - he put the price somewhere between $1,100 and $1,300. He charged them $100 a month for rent, $96 a month for a transportation fee, and money for bathroom cleaning - even though most of the toilets didn't work and the one that did was filthy. He charged them Social Security taxes but didn't turn that money over to the federal government. In addition they lived in fear of retribution should they flee and their housing was awful.

Location
United States · Hudson CO · 2010 (location generalized to protect survivors)
Response & intervention
The workers filed a lawsuit and won the judge awarded $1.5 million to each of the five men for numerous violations of federal law. Denver Post article - http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_12387869

Documented on the original SlaveryMap (2008–2016). Use “Report a problem” below to add a source or flag an issue.

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