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PRESS CONFERENCE ADVISORY: REP. TED LIEU AND ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE–LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FILIPINO IMMIGRANT GUESTWORKERS

June 3, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


PRESS CONFERENCE ADVISORY:
REP. TED LIEU AND ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICELOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND FILIPINO IMMIGRANT GUESTWORKERS

On June 9, 2016, Congressman Ted Lieu along with Asian Americans Advancing JusticeLos Angeles (Advancing JusticeLA) will host a public press conference on the current state of human trafficking and Filipino Immigrant Guestworkers receiving Nonimmigrant Visas.

WHO
Congressman Ted Lieu (D|CA-33)
Stewart Kwoh, President & Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Los Angeles
Yanin Senachai, Staff Attorney, Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Los Angeles

Individual trafficked guestworkers from the Philippines will also speak about their personal experiences.

WHAT
Press conference co-hosted by Congressman Ted Lieu and Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Los Angeles (Advancing Justice–LA)
on human trafficking and Filipino Immigrant Guestworkers receiving T Nonimmigrant Status Visas.

WHERE
Asian Americans Advancing Justice–Los Angeles
First Floor Community Room
1145 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90017
(located on the corner of Wilshire Blvd. & Lucas Ave.)
&
LIVE on Periscope with Parachute TV @ParachuteTV1

WHEN
Thursday, June 9, 2016 | 9:30AM

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Congressman Ted W. Lieu and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles (Advancing Justice – LA) announce the granting of T Nonimmigrant Status Visas from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to 11 workers from the Philippines who were fraudulently lured by their employer to the United States on Temporary Work Authorization visas to work at bakeries in Beverly Hills and Torrance. They were subjected to exploitative working conditions including debt bondage, severe wage theft, verbal abuse, and national origin discrimination. Before they received T Nonimmigrant Status Visas, the workers also feared deportation as a form of retaliation from their employers and believed their families in the Philippines were in danger.

An investigation by the California Labor Commissioner's Office revealed egregious wage and hour abuses at the bakeries, resulting in citations for over $300,000 in penalties and unpaid wages When the workers refused to lie to authorities about their working conditions, the employer retaliated by terminating their positions, leaving the workers in immigration limbo. With the help of Advancing Justice – LA and the law firm of Latham & Watkins LLP, the workers were recently awarded a default judgment of $15.2 million in damages and fees.

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Issues:Local Issues