John,

Mateo journeyed to North Carolina from his home in Mexico. He had been hired to work on a farm with an H-2A visa.

The promise of a job with a decent salary sounded miraculous. The pandemic had made the scarce opportunities in his hometown even rarer.

But this “miracle” soon fell apart:

Mateo’s compensation included basic needs like lodging and food, but breakfast was non-existent. Dinner was a sandwich. And the water they were given wasn’t always safe to drink.

In the summer heat, workers had only a shared jug of water to drink from — despite the pandemic. Sometimes they cut peppers in half to use as cups, attempting to stay safe.

So much is wrong here. But Mateo’s situation is not rare. It’s more common than you might think.

Will you give today, to prevent a worker like Mateo from suffering this abuse?

A special match will DOUBLE your impact for workers now!

Mateo’s supervisor used the pandemic as an excuse to control his nearly 80 workers. He banned them from going to the only grocery store within walking distance. When a few workers defied his order, the boss threatened to have everyone deported.

Then Mateo’s coworkers came down with fevers and other COVID symptoms. But the boss denied them medical attention, saying it didn’t seem urgent.

That was enough for Mateo. He shared his situation with his aunt, who contacted the National Human Trafficking Hotline. She reported the farm where Mateo was working.

What happened to Mateo could’ve been stopped sooner — or prevented entirely. Your generous care can help more workers access our Nonechka resource … an accessible way to know their rights, understand recruiting tactics, tell their story, and get help.

The multilingual platform uses cell phones to gather feedback, share information, and help workers avoid or leave trafficking situations. And there’s an urgent need to expand Nonechka’s reach, on both sides of the border.

Your gift NOW can achieve this. At the same time, you can help us use the data Nonechka gathers to change the visa system and protect workers.

Please keep freedom within reach for all workers.

P.S. With a special match, every $1 you give becomes $2 to empower someone like Mateo. Don’t miss this opportunity!