FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2022
Contact: Joel Mendelson, joel@jwj.org, Jobs With Justice
Washington, D.C. – Today, Jobs With Justice applauds President Biden, Secretary Marty Walsh, and the Department of Labor for announcing a new process to protect immigrant workers from retaliation when workers seek to address a litany of workplace concerns, challenges, and dangers.
“Today’s major announcement is a win by and for workers who organize and fight back,” said Natalie Patrick-Knox, Senior Organizer for Immigration and Workers’ Rights at Jobs With Justice. “It means higher wages and better conditions for all workers. It means more effective labor law enforcement. It means immigrant workers can organize unions and assert their rights without fear.”
Under the new policy, workers can email the Department of Labor explaining the problems at their worksite and the need for protection from deportation. The DOL would review the request within 30 days and if approved, send a statement to DHS to stop them from being deported. The statement would not identify specific workers, so that people’s identities would still be protected from DHS.
Workers all over the country have stood up for their civil rights by fighting exploitation, wage theft, sexual abuse, trafficking, and more. For decades, immigrant workers had faced threats of deportation when they spoke out. That changes today.
We look forward to seeing these changes implemented through effective interagency coordination, community-wide education, and successful labor enforcement. Immigrant workers should no longer fear deportation, separation from their families, or endangering their community when speaking out. It is imperative they be able to freely organize in their worksite and fully participate in Department of Labor investigations.
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