Category: Media release

Category: Media release

← Back to NC Bar honors TeAndra Miller, head of domestic violence project

ASHEVILLE · August 5, 2019—The North Carolina Bar Association honored TeAndra Miller, the head of our Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, with the Deborah Greenblatt Outstanding Legal Services Attorney Award at the association’s Pro Bono Awards Ceremony on June 20 in Asheville.

The Greenblatt Award is given annually to a legal aid lawyer who has made exemplary contributions to the provision of legal aid to North Carolinians in poverty. The award is named after the late Deborah Greenblatt, the former executive director of Disability Rights NC and an inspirational leader in the legal aid and disability rights communities.

“I am truly honored to receive the Greenblatt Award,” TeAndra said, “and I am equally grateful for the opportunity to do such important work on behalf of some of Legal Aid’s most vulnerable clients. My colleagues and I advocate for people whose lives are literally at stake, a fact which infuses our day-to-day work with incredible purpose and meaning—a true blessing.”

TeAndra has been a legal aid lawyer for nearly her entire 25-year legal career. In 1994, after earning her J.D. from N.C. Central University School of Law, she became a family law attorney with East Central Community Legal Services in Raleigh, the predecessor to our Raleigh field office. TeAndra left legal aid for private practice in 1996 but returned in 1999 and has focused on domestic violence ever since.

As the head of our Domestic Violence Prevention Initiative, TeAndra coordinates the delivery of legal services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault across the state. She ensures that advocates throughout our field offices have the training, supervision and resources necessary to provide consistently high-quality and compassionate representation to some of our most vulnerable clients.

She has built strong relationships with partner organizations and funders, and plays a major role in expanding our capacity to serve victims by securing and managing critical funding to support our advocacy. She also serves as the public face of our advocacy by conducting outreach and providing training to law enforcement, social services agencies, the larger legal community and other stakeholders at the local, state and national levels.

TeAndra  has served on a variety of local and statewide task forces that focus on domestic violence and sexual assault. She is currently a member of the N.C. Equal Access to Justice Commission, the Administrative Office of the Court’s Family Court Committee and the Wake County Fatality Task Force.

TeAndra’s parents inspired her to become a public-interest lawyer. Her father, Louis Martin, was a Reginald Heber Smith Fellow for a civil legal aid organization in Little Rock, Ark., in the 70s. He went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and Deputy Director of the Maryland Commission on Human Relations.

When her mother, Delores Martin, was 32, Gov. Bill Clinton appointed her to serve as Acting Director of the Arkansas Department of Aging. She went on to direct the Aging Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s office and the Illinois Court of Claims. TeAndra and her mother were both sworn in to the U.S. Supreme Court at the same ceremony in 2009. 

TeAndra lives in Wake County with her husband. They have two daughters and one grandson.

Category: Media release

GREENSBORO · February 14, 2017 – The Greensboro Bar Association will add a twist to the concept of “bar leadership” at its annual beer-and-wine fundraiser for Legal Aid of North Carolina on Feb. 25 at the Greensboro Science Center.

The event will include a sampling of beers and wines from Greensboro’s Gibbs Hundred Brewing Company and Rioja! wine bar, and a raffle for prizes ranging from restaurant gift certificates to a night on a party bus.

Sponsors of the event include law firms, law offices and individual lawyers, as well as local businesses and other supporters.

Last year’s event was attended by 80 people and raised nearly $20,000 for Legal Aid.

Click here to register and buy raffle tickets.

Category: Media release

GREENSBORO · Feb. 13, 2018 – The Greensboro Bar Association will host its annual Beer-and-Wine Tasting fundraiser to benefit Legal Aid of North Carolina on Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Greensboro SciQuarium.

The event will feature awards, raffles, dinner and – of course – drinks. Quaff quality wines from Rioja Wine Bar and sip specialty brews from Four Saints Brewing, Gibb’s Hundred Brewing Company, Joymongers Brewing Co. and Pig Pounder Brewery.

Hope to see you there! Cheers!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Category: Media release

← Back to Disaster Relief

Partnership among the North Carolina Bar Association, Legal Aid of North Carolina, American Bar Association, and FEMA helps North Carolina residents

RALEIGH · May 18, 2018 – A toll-free legal aid hotline is now available for victims of the April 15, 2018, tornado and storm (the “tornado”) in North Carolina. The service, which allows callers to request the assistance of a lawyer, is a partnership between the North Carolina Bar Association, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

Low-income survivors facing legal issues may call 1-833-242-3549, the assistance hotline activated by the North Carolina Bar Association. Callers should identify that they are seeking Tornado-related legal assistance, ask for Disaster Legal Services, and should identify the county in which they are located. Survivors who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free legal help. 

Examples of legal assistance available include:

  • Assistance with appeals of FEMA and other benefits available to disaster survivors
  • Assistance with life, medical and property insurance claims
  • Help with home repair contracts and contractors
  • Replacement of wills and other important legal documents destroyed in the disaster
  • Assisting in consumer protection matters, remedies and procedures
  • Counseling on mortgage-foreclosure problems
  • Counseling on landlord/tenant problems

The hotline is available weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals who qualify for assistance will be matched with North Carolina lawyers who have volunteered to provide free, limited legal help. Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where fees are paid as part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a lawyer referral service.

MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION

A total of two North Carolina counties have been approved to receive federal assistance in the wake of the tornado. The counties are Guilford and Rockingham Counties. 

People who sustained property damage as a result of the tornado are urged to register with FEMA, as they may be eligible for federal and state disaster assistance. People can register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or via smartphone or Web-enabled device at m.fema.gov. Applicants may also call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585 (TTY) from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Eastern Time) seven days a week. Tornado survivors are also urged to call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 if there are any questions, need clarifications, to inquire status updates of their registrations. 

Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for eligible applicants. SBA helps businesses of all sizes (including landlords), private nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or damaged personal property. Disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries. 

For more information, individuals may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling 800-659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.

For more information on North Carolina’s recovery, visit the disaster Web page at https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3380, Twitter at https://twitter.com/femaregion4 and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety website, http://www.ncdps.gov. 

BEWARE OF FRAUD

Both FEMA and the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office are warning North Carolina residents of the risk of fraud and common scams in the wake of the severe weather. Common post-disaster fraud practices include phony housing inspectors, fraudulent building contractors, bogus pleas for disaster donations, and fake offers of state or federal aid. North Carolinians are urged to ask questions, and to require identification when someone claims to represent a government agency. 

Survivors should also keep in mind that state and federal workers never ask for or accept money, and always carry identification badges with a photograph. There is no fee required to apply for or to receive disaster assistance from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), or the state. Additionally, no state or federal government disaster assistance agency will call to ask for your financial account information. Unless you place a call to the agency yourself, you should not provide personal information over the phone as it can lead to identity theft. 

Those who suspect fraud can call the FEMA Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 (toll free). Complaints may also be made to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-877-566-7226. 

BACKGROUND

When the U.S. President declares a major disaster, FEMA, in cooperation with the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, helps to establish a toll-free number for disaster survivors to request legal assistance. Funding for the toll-free line comes from FEMA under the authority of Section 415 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency assistance Act (Public Law 100-707). The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division in turn partners with state bar associations and other legal organizations to recruit volunteer lawyers in affected areas to handle survivors’ cases. In North Carolina, the partners utilize the hotline offered by the North Carolina Bar Association, which provides legal information and referrals for civil legal issues. Survivors should be aware that there are some limitations on disaster legal services. For example, assistance is not available for cases that will produce a fee (i.e., those cases where attorneys are paid part of the settlement by the court). Such cases are referred to a local lawyer referral service. To determine whether an issue qualifies for free legal assistance, individuals should call 1-800- 310-7029 to determine whether a particular issue qualifies.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

The following organizations have joined forces to establish a toll-free phone line for North Carolina Tornado victims to request free legal assistance, and to provide volunteer attorneys to handle cases arising from tornado related damage.

  • North Carolina Bar Association – The North Carolina Bar Association is a voluntary organization of lawyers, paralegals and law students dedicated to serving the public and the legal profession.
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina – Legal aid of North Carolina is a statewide, non-profit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.
  • American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division – The ABA YLD, the largest national organization of young lawyers, provides leadership in serving the public and the profession, and promotes excellence and fulfillment in the practice of law. Its parent organization, the ABA, is the national voice of the legal profession and one of the largest voluntary professional membership groups in the world.
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency – FEMA coordinates the federal government’s role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. Through an agreement with the American Bar Association, FEMA underwrites the cost of operating toll free legal assistance lines for survivors in areas designated as federal disaster sites.
  • National Disaster Legal Aid Online – NDLA (available at: disasterlegalaid.org) is a collaborative effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association, and Pro Bono Net.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

  • North Carolina Bar Association: Nihad Mansour, Pro Bono Staff Attorney, 919-677-0561, probono@ncbar.org
  • Legal Aid of North Carolina: George Hausen, Executive Director, 919-586-2130, GeorgeH@legalaidnc.org
  • American Bar Association, Brooks Jaffa, ABA YLD District 9 Rep., 704-442-1010 ext. 139, Bfjaffa@gmail.com

Category: Media release

← Back to Government Benefits

​RALEIGH · March 1, 2019 –Hawkins v. Cohen (5:17-CV-581 E.D.N.C.) is a federal lawsuit filed in 2017 by Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy and the National Health Law Program to stop illegal terminations of Medicaid benefits in North Carolina. The Court hearing the case has certified it as a class action.

This means that the Court’s orders protect all N.C. Medicaid beneficiaries from having their Medicaid terminated improperly (including transfer to Medicaid that only covers family planning services).

The Court has issued a preliminary injunction ordering the N.C. Medicaid agency and all 100 county Departments of Social Services (DSS) to stop terminating or reducing Medicaid coverage until eligibility under all Medicaid categories has been considered and advance notice of the right to a hearing has been mailed. The Court’s order prohibits automatic terminations without any notice by the state computer, NC FAST, because a county worker failed to process a review of the case in the month it was due. This often happens in the following circumstances: at the end of the one year period for which Medicaid was previously approved; a parent or caretaker’s youngest child turns age 18; any child turns age 19; a pregnancy ends; transitional Medicaid coverage ends. The Order also prohibits failure to consider all Medicaid categories before Medicaid terminates.

Specifically, beginning in April 2019, for persons receiving Medicaid as a child, caretaker of a child, or pregnant woman, DSS will have to send a notice giving that person the opportunity to allege disability and then apply for Medicaid based on disability even though the person already gets Medicaid. If that application based on disability is timely filed, DSS cannot terminate Medicaid for that person unless that application has been denied.

If you have any questions about this lawsuit or about your rights, you may contact the attorneys who filed the case, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. You can reach these lawyers by calling this toll free number: 1-800-936-4971. You can also send the lawyers an email athawkinsinfo@charlottelegaladvocacy.org. You also may contact these lawyers if you want to report that you lost your Medicaid without a decision that you were no longer eligible for Medicaid under any category or without receiving advance written notice that your Medicaid would stop.

There is no cost to you for any help that these lawyers provide to you.

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Category: Media release

← Back to Fair Housing

RALEIGH · Feb. 5, 2018 – Legal Aid of North Carolina announced that the owner, and former and current managers of an apartment complex in Hickory, N.C., had settled a housing discrimination complaint alleging that they had discriminated against a resident with a disability. As a result of the settlement, the owner and managers of the Villas at Northview, who denied engaging in discrimination, will adopt new fair housing policies for people with disabilities, attend training in fair housing law, and pay collectively a total of $15,000 in damages and costs to Ms. Jerilyne Johnson, the tenant who brought the complaint.

The case involved Ms. Johnson’s request to have a parking space near her unit to accommodate her mobility limitations, some of which were caused by multiple sclerosis. While parking at the complex is typically “first come, first serve,” fair housing laws require housing providers to make “reasonable accommodations” to rules and policies to allow people with disabilities an equal opportunity to live in a dwelling.

Ms. Johnson made her initial written request for a reserved parking space in 2014. After her request was denied several months later, she filed her fair housing complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against the owners and managers of the complex: Villas at Northview, LLC; Intermark Management Corporation; Vista Capital Management Group, Inc.; and Brenda Cranford (collectively known as “Respondents”).

The complaint was referred by HUD to the North Carolina Human Relations Commission (NCHRC) for investigation. Respondents eventually granted Ms. Johnson’s request for a reserved parking space. The NCHRC found “reasonable cause” to believe that the Respondents had engaged in an unlawful housing practice by refusing to approve Ms. Johnson’s request for over a year. Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project represented Ms. Johnson in settlement negotiations.

“Ms. Johnson did not believe what happened was right, educated herself about the protections of the Fair Housing Act, and then did something about it – all on her own,” said Kelly Clarke, attorney at the Fair Housing Project of Legal Aid who assisted Ms. Johnson in the settlement negotiations. “I am just glad we could help her finish what she started.”

The law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, and disability.

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Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Learn more at LegalAidNC.org.

Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Project works to eliminate housing discrimination and to ensure equal housing opportunity for all people through education, outreach, public policy initiatives, advocacy and enforcement. North Carolinians who believe that they have been victims of housing discrimination can contact the Fair Housing Project at 1-855-797-3247 or info@fairhousingnc.org. The project’s work on this case was made possible by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program. Learn more about the project and fair housing laws at FairHousingNC.org.

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of N.C., 919-856-2132, SeanD@legalaidnc.org

Category: Media release

← Back to Disaster Relief

RALEIGH, January 5, 2017 – Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Red Cross will hold a series of free outreach events this month in eastern North Carolina for people affected by Hurricane Matthew.

Attendees can receive expert help with housing, insurance, financial assistance and legal issues arising from the storm. Each event is completely free and open to all members of the public. Appointments are not required.

​Sat., Jan. 14, 2017
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Robeson Community College
5160 Fayetteville Road
Lumberton, NC 28360		 ​Sat., Jan. 21, 2017
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Edgecombe Co. Admin Building
201 St. Andrews St.
Tarboro, NC 27886		 Sat., Jan. 28, 2017
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Goldsboro Event Center
1501 South Slocumb Street
Goldsboro, NC 27530

The events are part of Legal Aid’s effort to provide critical information and assistance to survivors of Hurricane Matthew. Visit the Disaster Relief section of our site for free self-help legal resources, news from federal and state agencies serving survivors, links to important information and more.

If you need legal help, call the toll-free Hurricane Matthew legal aid hotline at 1-800-662-7407.

If you are a lawyer who wants to volunteer to help storm victims, click here to learn more.

Category: Media release

← Back to Summer intern secures restraining order for domestic violence victim

BOONE · June 18, 2019 – The summer is just getting started, but Kelsey Woods, summer intern in our Boone office, has already had a huge impact on the life of one of our clients.

Our client came to Legal Aid after experiencing horrific violence at the hands of a family member. After several days of intensive training, including mock trials, and observation and practice, Kelsey represented our client at a domestic violence hearing in Wilkes County District Court. She secured a one-year restraining order, allowing our client to have a little bit of peace of mind in the midst of a difficult time. The judge was supremely complimentary of Kelsey’s conduct and practice. She described her as being well spoken and seeming beyond her years.

We are so happy to have Kelsey working with us this summer. She is a rising 3L at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Prior to law school, Kelsey served five years active duty onboard the U.S.S. George H. W. Bush. She is currently serving as a Petty Officer First Class in the United States Naval Reserves.

“Working for Legal Aid is such a rewarding experience because it allows you to directly empower your clients and facilitate positive changes in their lives,” Kelsey said.

While at Legal Aid, MLK interns work under the supervision of seasoned Legal Aid attorneys in our offices and projects across the state, bringing legal theory to life by doing substantive work on real cases for real clients.

Learn more about our MLK Internship Program.

Category: Media release

← Back to Farmworker Unit secures $75,000 settlement in labor trafficking case
Related

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Hear Caitlin Ryland discuss the case on WUNC

Read coverage in The Wilson Times

RALEIGH · April 1, 2019 – A group of 13 migrant farmworkers represented by Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Farmworker Unit has obtained justice – and $75,000 – in a labor trafficking case involving the federal H-2A visa program. The case, Eliseo Alonso-Miranda, et al. v. Cirila Garcia-Pineda, et al., was settled in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of N.C. on Dec. 26, 2018.

The vast majority of the $75,000 settlement will be paid in damages to Legal Aid’s clients: Mexican citizens lured into crippling debt for the opportunity to come to North Carolina in 2015 with promises of a legal work visa that would provide them with abundant work, ample pay, and the chance to extend their stay in the U.S. at the end of their visa period.

The ones who made those promises were three farm labor contractors in Stantonsburg, North Carolina: Cirila Garcia-Pineda, her daughter Marisa Garcia-Pineda, and her stepson Ofelio Garcia. The workers say the Garcias exploited features of the federal H-2A visa program, which allows U.S. employers to hire foreign workers for temporary agricultural work under certain conditions. Farm labor contractors act as go-betweens who recruit, transport, oversee, and often house workers on behalf of agricultural companies. The role of farm labor contractors is defined by federal law, and contractors must be certified by the U.S. Department of Labor. Farm labor contractors, in addition to fixed-site farming operations and grower associations, are permitted to directly petition for workers using the H-2A visa program.

In their August 2017 complaint against the Stantonsburg contractors, Lori Johnson, managing attorney of the Farmworker Unit, and supervising attorney Caitlin Ryland described a very different reality for their clients than the lucrative job opportunity that they were promised in their hometowns in Mexico.

The complaint alleges that before the workers arrived in North Carolina, Cirila had been operating as a farm labor contractor for years, but her business was in trouble. Facing financial difficulties and weathering multiple state and federal investigations, she was potentially on the verge of losing her certification as a farm labor contractor. So, she turned to her daughter Marisa, who was working as a paralegal in a Greenville law firm at the time. Acting as a front for her mother, Marisa submitted the various applications required to hire workers through the H-2A program. Marisa held herself out to the feds as the sole contractor, when in reality, her mother and stepbrother acted as the on-site farm labor contractors.

The workers allege that, in 2015, the Garcias charged them exorbitant and unlawful recruitment fees, which are expressly prohibited by the H-2A program; paid them less than the $7.25 per hour minimum wage and the required $10.32 per hour H-2A wage for their work in the tobacco and sweet potato fields; lied to them about their chances of staying in the U.S.; failed to reimburse the workers’ upfront visa and travel-related expenses to come from Mexico to North Carolina; housed them in substandard housing; deprived them of workers’ compensation coverage, which they are entitled to under H-2A rules; impeded their access to medical care; retained their Social Security cards; used threats and coercive action to try to confiscate their passports; and made a loud, public display of physically threatening another worker who dared to ask for his wages.

“Our clients wanted justice, and we are glad that we were able to win some measure of it for them.” Johnson said.

The complaint alleged that, taken together, the contractors’ actions violated multiple state and federal laws, including the North Carolina Wage and Hour Act, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act and Trafficking Victims Protection Act, and the rules of the H-2A program.

“This is what labor trafficking looks like,” Ryland, a member of North Carolina’s Human Trafficking Commission, said. “Sex trafficking might be better known, but labor trafficking is just as pernicious and it’s all too prevalent, especially in industries where labor contracting services are used.”

“North Carolina’s agricultural industry is one of the largest users of the H-2A program,” Johnson said. “H-2A workers are particularly vulnerable, despite the protections guaranteed to them by the program. They are often recruited from parts of the world with fewer economic opportunities, rarely speak English, typically are unaware of their legal rights, and they depend on their employers for nearly everything: housing, mail, access to food, medical care, houses of worship, information … almost everything. With their visas tethered to one employer, the H-2A worker can’t just leave and work lawfully for a different employer. There are always individuals out there who are willing to exploit these vulnerabilities for their own gain.”

Under the settlement, the three contractors deny all liability, but agree to the financial settlement and other terms, including a lifelong ban from participating in the H-2A program. This was a moot point for Cirila Garcia-Pineda, whom the U.S. Department of Labor added to its list of Ineligible Farm Labor Contractors in 2017, which prohibits her from engaging in any activity as a farm labor contractor, whether under the H-2A program or not.

For Marisa Garcia-Pineda, her agreement to the life-long H-2A ban comes on top of a three-year ban – issued by the U.S. Department of Labor in 2018 – on acting as a farm labor contractor outside of the H-2A program.

Ryland remarked, “I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent this group of workers who bravely stood up in solidarity against those that wronged them. Our clients hope that this settlement will help them and their families move forward from this experience and that shedding light on what happened will protect others vulnerable to the same exploitation.”

Media Contact

Sean Driscoll, Director of Public Relations, Legal Aid of North Carolina, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

About

Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and to remove legal barriers to economic opportunity. Our Farmworker Unit is a statewide project that addresses the special legal needs of migrant and seasonal farmworkers in North Carolina. Learn more at legalaidnc.org and farmworkerlanc.org.

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^ Back to English version

La División de Trabajadores Agrícolas asegura un acuerdo de $75,000 en caso de la trata de personas en el aspecto laboral

RALEIGH · Abril 1, 2019 – Un grupo de 13 trabajadores agrícolas migrantes representados por Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte de la División de Trabajadores Agrícolas ha obtenido justicia – y $75,000 – en un caso de la trata de personas en el aspecto laboral que involucra el programa federal de visas H-2A. El caso, Eliseo Alonso-Miranda, et al. v. Cirila Garcia-Pineda, et al., fue resuelto en el Tribunal de Distrito de los Estados Unidos para el Distrito Este de Carolina del Norte el 26 de diciembre del 2018.

La gran parte  del acuerdo de $75,000 se pagará en daños y perjuicios a los clientes de Ayuda Legal: ciudadanos Mexicanos fueron reclutados con una deuda perjudicial para tener la oportunidad de venir a Carolina del Norte en el 2015 con la promesa de una visa de trabajo legal que les proporcionaría trabajo abundante, un buen salario, y la posibilidad de extender su estadía en los Estados Unidos  al finalizar el tiempo de su visa.

Los que hicieron esas promesas fueron tres contratistas de trabajadores agrícolas en Stantonsburg, Carolina del Norte: Cirila García-Pineda, su hija Marisa García-Pineda y su hijastro Ofelio García. Los trabajadores dicen que los García abusaron de las características del programa federal de visa H-2A, el cual permite a los empleadores de los Estados Unidos contratar trabajadores extranjeros para trabajos agrícolas temporales bajo ciertas condiciones. Los contratistas de trabajadores agrícolas actúan como intermediarios que reclutan, transportan, supervisan y, a menudo proveen vivienda a trabajadores en nombre de las empresas agrícolas. La función de los contratistas de trabajo agrícola es definida por la ley federal, y los contratistas deben estar certificados por el Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos. Los contratistas de trabajadores agrícolas, granjas operativas, y las asociaciones de productores, tienen permiso para solicitar directamente a los trabajadores utilizando el programa de visa H-2A.

En la demanda de agosto de 2017 contra los contratistas de Stantonsburg, Lori Johnson, Abogada Directora de la División de Trabajadores Agrícolas, y la Abogada Supervisora Caitlin Ryland describieron una realidad muy diferente para sus clientes, que la lucrativa oportunidad de trabajo que les prometieron en sus pueblos de origen en México.

La demanda alega que antes de que los trabajadores llegaran a Carolina del Norte, Cirila había estado operando como una contratista de trabajadores agrícolas por años, pero su negocio estaba en problemas. Al enfrentar dificultades financieras y sobrellevar múltiples investigaciones estatales y federales, estaba potencialmente a punto de perder su certificación como contratista de trabajadores agrícola. Entonces, se dirigió a su hija Marisa, que en ese momento estaba trabajando como asistente legal en un bufete de abogados en Greenville. Utilizando su nombre para encubrir a su madre, Marisa presentó las diversas solicitudes requeridas para contratar trabajadores a través del programa H-2A. Marisa se presentó ante las agencias federales como la única contratista, cuando en realidad, su madre y su hermanastro eran los contratistas de trabajo agrícola en los campos de trabajo.

Los trabajadores alegan que, en el 2015, los García les cobraron cuotas sumamente altas e ilegales de reclutamiento, las cuales están explícitamente prohibidas por el programa H-2A; les pagaron menos del salario mínimo de $7.25 por hora y el salario requerido de $10.32 por hora de H-2A por su trabajo en los campos de tabaco y camote; les  mintieron sobre sus posibilidades de permanecer en los EE.UU.; fallaron en reembolsarles el costo de la visa y los gastos relacionados con los viajes de México a Carolina del Norte; los alojó en viviendas precarias; los privó de la cobertura de compensación laboral para trabajadores, a la que tienen derecho según las reglas H-2A; impedido su acceso a la atención médica; confiscaron sus tarjetas de Seguro Social; utilizaron amenazas y acciones agresivas para intentar confiscar sus pasaportes; e hicieron una demostración pública en donde amenazaron físicamente a otro trabajador que se atrevió a preguntar sobre su salario.

“Nuestros clientes querían justicia, y nos alegramos de haber podido ganar algo de eso para ellos,” dijo Johnson.

La demanda alegó que, en conjunto, las acciones de los contratistas violaron múltiples leyes estatales y federales, incluyendo la Ley de Horas y Salarios de Carolina del Norte, la Ley de Normas Razonables de Trabajo y la Ley de Protección de Víctimas de la Trata de Personas, y las reglas del programa H-2A.

“Así es la trata de personas en el aspecto laboral,” dijo Ryland, miembro de la Comisión de Trata de Personas de Carolina del Norte. “La trata de personas en el aspecto sexual podrá ser más conocido, pero la trata de personas en el aspecto laboral es igual de pernicioso y demasiado frecuente, especialmente en las industrias donde se utilizan los servicios de contratación laboral.”

“La industria agrícola de Carolina del Norte es uno de los mayores usuarios del programa H-2A,” dijo Johnson. “Los trabajadores del programa H-2A son particularmente vulnerables, a pesar de las protecciones que les garantiza el programa. Normalmente, son reclutados de partes del mundo con menos oportunidades económicas, rara vez hablan inglés, generalmente desconocen sus derechos legales, y dependen de sus empleadores para casi todo: vivienda, correspondencia, acceso a alimentos, atención médica, lugares de adoración, información… casi todo. Con sus visas atadas a un empleador, el trabajador H-2A no puede simplemente irse y trabajar legalmente para un empleador diferente. Siempre hay personas que están dispuestas a explotar estas vulnerabilidades para su propio beneficio.”

Según el acuerdo, los tres contratistas niegan toda responsabilidad, pero aceptan el acuerdo financiero y otros términos, incluyendo ser prohibidos de por vida de poder participar en el programa H-2A. Este fue un punto discutible para Cirila García-Pineda, a quien el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU. agregó a su lista de Contratistas de Trabajadores Agrícolas Inelegibles en 2017, la cual la prohíbe participar en cualquier actividad como contratista de trabajadores agrícolas, ya sea bajo el programa H-2A o no.

Para Marisa García-Pineda, su acuerdo con la prohibición del programa H2A de por vida se suma a una prohibición de tres años, emitida por el Departamento de Trabajo de los EE. UU. en 2018, al actuar como contratista de trabajadores agrícolas fuera del programa H-2A.

Ryland comentó: “Me siento honrada de haber tenido la oportunidad de representar a este grupo de trabajadores que valientemente levantaron la voz en solidaridad en contra de los que los maltrataron. Nuestros clientes esperan que este acuerdo los ayude a ellos y a sus familias a salir adelante de esta experiencia y al sacar a la luz lo que sucedió va a proteger a otras personas vulnerables de este tipo de  explotación.”

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Contacto con los medios

Sean Driscoll, Director de Relaciones Públicas, Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org

Acerca de Ayuda Legal

Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte es una firma de abogados a nivel estatal sin fines de lucro, que brinda servicios legales gratuitos en asuntos civiles a personas de bajos ingresos para garantizar el acceso equitativo a la justicia y eliminar las barreras legales a oportunidades económicas. Nuestra División de Trabajadores Agrícolas es un proyecto estatal que aborda las necesidades legales especiales de los trabajadores agrícolas migratorios y temporales en Carolina del Norte. Obtenga más información en www.legalaidnc.org y www.farmworkerlanc.org

Category: Media release

← Back to Healthcare Access

MARION, January 26, 2015 – Do you have to pay a fine for not having health insurance? Can you get financial help to pay for health insurance? If you have questions about the Affordable Care Act, come to a free health insurance information and enrollment event Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at the Corpening Memorial YMCA, 348 Grace Corpening Road, in Marion.

The Affordable Care Act requires everyone to have health insurance, pay a fine or receive an exemption from the fine. The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, Legal Aid of North Carolina, and the McDowell Hospital are partnering to help McDowell County residents understand the health care law and help them enroll in health insurance plans.

Individuals can make an appointment for a free, confidential meeting with a trained Affordable Care Act navigator who can help them review options and enroll in a health care plan. Walk-ins will be accommodated if possible, but scheduling an appointment is recommended. Open enrollment for 2015 ends on February 15 so it is important to enroll as soon as possible.

Informal presentations about the health care law will be made in English at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and in Spanish at 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary to attend the presentations or stop by the event for general information about the Affordable Care Act.

One-on-one enrollment appointments can be scheduled by calling 828-437-8280, ext. 2103 or 1-855-733-3711. Appointments can also be made online at: http://connector.getcoveredamerica.org.

Those interested in enrolling in a health insurance plan should bring their Social Security or immigration document numbers, income information for every member of their household, policy numbers for current health insurance plans and any information about job-related health insurance available to the family.

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Legal Aid of North Carolina is a statewide, nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services in civil matters to low-income people in order to ensure equal access to justice and remove legal barriers to economic opportunity.

The Council on Aging of Buncombe County (COA) is a non-profit organization providing services, support and information to help people meet the challenges of growing older. COA is dedicated to promoting independence, dignity and wellness for older adults through education, innovative programming, and coordination of resources. Learn more at www.coabc.org.

McDowell Hospital serves the health care needs of our community, giving comprehensive, cost-effective, quality care without regard to race, color, creed or ability to pay. Learn more at www.mcdowellhospital.org.

Media Contacts

Barbara Degen, 828-437-8280 x2104, barbarad@legalaidnc.org

Sean Driscoll, 919-856-2132, seand@legalaidnc.org​