Brennan Center: US Violates International Law by Failing to Enforce Laws Protecting Employment Rights of Mexican Workers Legally in the US US Departments of Labor and Homeland Security Each Point to the Other as Being Responsible

The Brennan Center for Justice reports that, using a procedure set up in the labor side agreement to NAFTA, a group of Mexican workers, and Mexican and U.S. organizations, have submitted a document to the Mexican government detailing the frequent exploitation of workers brought into the U.S. by their employers on temporary work visas, and the failure of the U.S. government to enforce even the most basic of the workers’ employment rights. The submission follows up on a complaint the workers filed in 2005. The workers complain of suffering brutal physical injury, stolen wages, and unsafe housing. They describe their inability to enforce their rights through the federal and state labor departments, and to obtain access to the civil legal aid they need to seek redress.

KJ