McALLEN, Texas – Los defensores del trabajador de Texas lanzan este Día Del Trabajo su ofensiva para difundir el robo de salarios y adiestrar a los trabajadores de bajos ingresos sobre sus derechos, especialmente en comunidades de inmigrantes.

Y es que con o sin documentos, estos trabajadores son un factor relevante en la economía de Texas y además están protegidos por las leyes del trabajo federales y estatales. Por eso, este Día del Trabajo marca un esfuerzo renovado de los defensores del trabajador para revertir patrones añejos de violaciones laborales.

En el valle Río Grande, una central de trabajadores llamada Fuerza del Valle ha estado manifestándose frente a negocios en los que se piensa que constantemente descienden a sus trabajadores o los tienen mal clasificados. Habla el organizador en la Red de Voces Iguales del Valle Río Grande (Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network), Héctor Guzmán López:

"Es la actitud de siempre, la de 'puedo tratar a la gente como yo quiera porque yo tengo capital para abrir un negocio'. Y aquí en la frontera, desde que tenemos una gran población inmigrante que va y viene, vemos esto un poco más que otras áreas."

Dice que si bien las violaciones siguen en ascenso, los trabajadores de la construcción, de restaurantes y hoteles están aprendiendo rápido que pueden actuar cuando sus patrones no les paguen su salario completo. Fuerza del Valle imparte clínicas semanales llamadas "Conoce tus derechos" e interviene a favor de trabajadores que se sienten engañados.

La Secretaria del Trabajo de los EE.UU., Hilda Solís, al hablar con reporteros la semana pasada sobre la situación actual del trabajador latino, dijo que la administración Obama casi ha duplicado las investigaciones de la ley laboral; pero que ella debe confiar en los defensores locales como Fuerza del Valle para monitorear los abusos.

"No hay manera de que pueda mandar un investigador a todos los negocios de este país, pero con la ayuda de la comunidad, y con defensores diciéndome dónde más ocurren violaciones, eso nos ayudará a proteger nuestros recursos."

La Secretaria Solís dice que el año pasado su secretaría cobró la mayor cantidad de salarios atrasados de la historia. Aún así, afirma que le gustaría ver que el Congreso asigne más recursos para hacer que la ley se cumpla.

López, de Fuerza del Valle, comenta que todos los tejanos debieran interesarse en el tema del robo de salarios, por el bien de los trabajadores inmigrantes y sus familias pero también porque hay comunidades enteras que sufren cuando los trabajadores son engañados.

"Es dinero que se le niega a nuestras economías locales. Y también afecta a la comunidad de negocios - gente de negocios ética. Porque ya sabes, no es justo que la competencia tenga sobre ellos la injusta ventaja de no respetar la ley."

Quiere que los legisladores endurezcan las penas por robo de sueldos y la protección en las construcciones que se hagan con fondos del estado. Mientras tanto, su grupo sigue trabajando para presionar el cumplimiento de la ley a nivel local, a fin de que se reaccione ante las violaciones a las normas existentes.

Vea el webinar completo en http://bit.ly/QF589P.


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Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a recent, controversial Texas law.

Senate File 2340 gives local law enforcement officers and judges the authority to deport undocumented immigrants.

Erica Johnson, executive director of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice, argued the bill is an overreach, and said Iowa law enforcement officers are not authorized to enforce it.

"This is a pretty clear intervention into federal territory," Johnson pointed out. "U.S. immigration law is governed by federal law."

Much like the author of the Texas bill, supporters in Iowa blame the Biden administration for failing to slow illegal immigration, so the state has decided to take matters into its own hands.

Johnson contended the bill and other anti-immigrant sentiment during the just-completed legislative session target the very people Iowa, with its dwindling population, will depend on for its future workforce.

"What we need is communities that are safe, where workers have access to dignified, safe workplaces," Johnson emphasized. "The truth of what Iowa's future could be depends on immigrants and immigrant workers in our state, and unfortunately, this law could take us back, away from that possible future. "

Johnson added her organization will pursue legal ways to block the bill from taking effect in July.


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The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing the border. But groups are speaking out about the impact of "Operation Lone Star" on the youngest migrants. Governor Greg Abbott continues to bus migrant families to other states, many with young children - more than 100,000 families so far.

Robert Sanborn, CEO of Children at Risk, works to improve the quality of life for boys and girls in Texas, and contends the policy has put trauma on top of trauma.

"We never want children to be political pawns. We don't want maximum chaos on the backs of children. We want children to grow up and be assets for our community," he contended.

Sanborn points out that 2.2 million children in Texas are immigrants, and said it would be less stressful for kids if families were not bused in the middle of the night, and if they were allowed to pick their destination.

When immigrants arrive at the border, they are evaluated to determine if they're eligible for asylum.

Beatriz Zavala, clinical coordinator at El Paso-based Humanitarian Outreach for Migrant Emotional Health, or "HOME," said the children in this situation are at higher risk for mental health disorders.

"What is particularly troubling is the profound disregard for the stability and protection these families need. The impact on their mental health is undeniable. These are not just statistics. These are children, real children," she said.

As part of Operation Lone Star, families have been bused to Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. The governor has said the practice is needed to keep the Texas-Mexico border safe.


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Legislation in Albany would create the first right to counsel for people in immigration court.

The Access to Representation Act would provide immigrants the right to an attorney in their New York immigration cases, ending the tendency to represent themselves if they cannot afford one.

Estimates show a backlog of more than 330,000 immigration court cases, and fewer than half have attorneys. Studies show without legal counsel, migrants are less likely to remain in the U.S.

Marlene Galaz, director of immigrant rights policy for the New York Immigration Coalition, described what the bill would do.

"It has a six-year ramp-up to start implementing and building infrastructure," Galaz outlined. "Having a pipeline between law schools for law students to go into immigration practice, and getting to nonprofits and so on."

Galaz noted most opposition centers around the $150 million to fund the program but pointed out the total expenditure is less than 1% of the state's $229 billion budget. She added anti-immigrant rhetoric has also damaged support for the bill. Currently, it is in the state Senate Finance Committee.

The New York City Comptroller's office said enacting the bill would benefit the state financially. It could keep about 53,000 people from being deported, which would result in almost $8.5 billion in local, state and federal taxes over the next 30 years.

Galaz emphasized the influx of migrants has saturated the court system, leading to what could have been an avoidable backlog.

"I firmly believe that if these investments had been made when we first asked for them, I believe, like, three years ago, then we wouldn't be struggling," Galaz contended. "We would have had the infrastructure built to address an increase in welcoming our newest neighbors."

A Vera Institute survey showed 93% of New Yorkers across party lines and regions support access to attorneys for all people, including those in immigration court, and government-funded attorneys for them.


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