Team,

For too long, immigrant workers experiencing dangerous working conditions or
unfair wages have been stuck in a cruel catch-22: If they don’t report abusive
employers, nothing changes, and if they do, they could face retaliation based on
their immigration status.

Last year, the Biden administration announced a new, groundbreaking policy that
offers temporary protections from deportation to individuals reporting workplace
abuse. This came after decades of advocacy by immigrant workers, labor unions,
workers’ centers, and advocates, including NILC.

In 2021, a tragic and entirely preventable liquid nitrogen leak claimed the lives of six
workers at a Gainesville, Georgia poultry plant . Responding swiftly, we joined a group of local grassroots and legal
organizations to form a rapid response coalition. Together, we provided legal
representation and support to the affected poultry workers, free of charge.

As a result of the bravery of the workers and our coalition’s advocacy, the U.S.
Department of Labor’s (DOL) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
issued 59 citations against the responsible companies, resulting in fines
exceeding $1 million.

Our efforts also led to some of the earliest grants of deferred action by the
Biden administration, underscoring the necessity for formal DHS guidance and the
positive impact of immigration protections on labor law enforcement.

“I was afraid. There was no safety in my job, but there was no other option.
When I was in the chicken plant, I was always stuck there, thinking how am I
going to find something else — but now [with Deferred Action] I was able to find
a new job.” -Alba Velásquez Turcios, former poultry worker at Foundation Food Group in
Gainesville, Georgia, represented by NILC

Fast forward to today — the deferred action policy is now formalized, and it’s
already been transformative for workers, providing security and confidence for them to speak up about safety issues,
participate in investigations, seek new employment and personal development
opportunities, and raise awareness within their communities.

The Gainesville nitrogen leak is just one real-life illustration of the critical
need for deferred action. With workers now benefiting from these protections, other workers will be empowered to speak out, seek protections, and come
forward to share their experiences, which will in turn make workplaces better
and safer for all.

We look forward to sharing more as this policy continues to make a difference in
our workplaces and communities.

Thank you,

— National Immigration Law Center

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