“I am grateful to the Justice Center and to the people who work there for helping me to recover the money that I was owed by [a construction company in Northern Virginia].  I thought that the money was lost forever, but thanks to this program I succeeded in getting all of the money that I was owed.  I hope that this problem never happens to me again, but if it does I know where to turn, because this is an excellent program with quality people.  They are very friendly.  Thank you for helping me and God bless you and keep going!

--SEG, a construction worker who recovered $1552.29 in unpaid wages.

LAJC’s Immigrant Advocacy Program offers free legal assistance to low-income immigrant workers who have been cheated out of their pay.  We reach out to workers around Virginia to educate them about their rights, and teach them how to protect themselves from abuse and exploitation by employers. 

We visit workers who cut Christmas trees in the mountains of Southwest Virginia; harvest fruit in the apple and peach orchards of the Piedmont; process turkeys in the poultry industry of the Shenandoah Valley; pick crabs and package seafood in Tidewater; harvest vegetables on the Northern Neck and in the massive tomato fields of the Eastern Shore.  Finally, we stand with the countless day laborers and other low-wage immigrant workers who support the construction and service industries of Northern Virginia.  All too often, and in all parts of the state, we hear shocking stories of employers cheating workers out of hard earned pay, providing substandard housing, and other unsavory practices. 

The Immigrant Advocacy Program is working hard to end the abuse and exploitation.  Our team of attorneys regularly represents workers seeking justice in state and federal court, as well as in administrative proceedings.  Hundreds of our clients have together won judgments and settlements totaling more than $2 million—primarily representing unpaid wages for work they performed.

During 2007, we completed legal representation of over 275 individuals, and won judgments and settlements totaling more than $200,000 in unpaid wages and related damages.   We provided advice and referrals to over 800 people whose primary language is Spanish, and we provided bilingual oral presentations and written materials concerning workers’ rights to over 1,100 low-wage immigrant workers.

We currently are co-counseling two class action lawsuits with the Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of migrant forestry workers.  Together we represent several thousand workers who were brought to the U.S. on H-2B work visas to plant pine trees throughout the southeast.  Not only were the workers treated poorly, but they were also not properly compensated for their work.  Sadly, this type of exploitation and abuse flourish in the so-called “guestworker” visa programs, where workers are tied by their visa to a specific employer.

The Immigrant Advocacy Program team of attorneys and staff is honored to be able to work with Virginia’s hardworking immigrants to defend their rights—in the fields, on the streets, and in the courts.

Read about our local and statewide advocacy work. 

Join our latest advocacy campaign.

Learn about other organizations and coalitions working effectively for the rights of immigrant workers.