Case Studies
Manuel
Manuel was a man from South America and he was 20 years old. He decided to travel to the U.S. when his friend told him about a farming job. He had to pay a fee for his trip. He had a long journey to America that lasted for weeks and he was forced by armed men to walk for long distances that lasted hours and he was also drugged. The troubles did not end there. When he finally got to the U.S. he was shoved into an apartment with 100 other people. He was stuck in the apartment until he could pay additional smuggling fees. The apartment he stayed in was dirty, rat-infested, and was guarded by armed men, and while he stayed there he was forced to cook and clean for the other people without getting paid. He saw sexual violence when he was in the apartment and tried to save one woman being raped. He and a few other men were punished for trying to help and were severely beaten by the guards. As another part of his punishment he was thrown off the back of a moving truck which gave him the chance to run away. When he was running he saw a police car and told the police officer what had happened. The police officer helped him and he is now a legal permanent residence working in construction.
Nasreen
Nasreen was sent to live with her uncle in New York at the age of 15. Her family sent her after they had financial troubles in Central Asia. When she arrived in New York her uncle put her right to work even though she was promised to be registered in school. She had to do domestic work in her uncle’s home all day and every night she would work in his store as a cashier. She was never offered any pay and her uncle told her she was selfish when she asked to continue her education. She was forced to live like this for two years until she decided to run away. Nasreen met a case manager and stayed in a youth shelter for 30 days. She eventually met a family from the Muslim community that decided to take her in. The case manager worked with her and she just recently graduated high school. She is now in college studying to become a nurse.
Vishalie
Vishalie is a woman from India that came to the U.S to work as a nanny so she could support her family back home. She answered an ad in the newspaper and went for an interview. She went to go work for the Desai family but once she got to America the terms of work changed. Her passport was taken away and she was sent to work for another family, the Patel's, in New Jersey. The Patel's paid the Desai's directly and did not know that Vishalie was not receiving pay. When Vishallie asked about the Patel's about her wages they learned she was not getting paid. They drove her to meet Mr. Desai and she began working for him again under the same terrible conditions including not being paid, being physically abused, and not having any days off. Eventually Vishallie was able to escape with the help of a concerned neighbor. Vishalie reported the Desai's and now has a T visa.
Manuel
Manuel was a man from South America and he was 20 years old. He decided to travel to the U.S. when his friend told him about a farming job. He had to pay a fee for his trip. He had a long journey to America that lasted for weeks and he was forced by armed men to walk for long distances that lasted hours and he was also drugged. The troubles did not end there. When he finally got to the U.S. he was shoved into an apartment with 100 other people. He was stuck in the apartment until he could pay additional smuggling fees. The apartment he stayed in was dirty, rat-infested, and was guarded by armed men, and while he stayed there he was forced to cook and clean for the other people without getting paid. He saw sexual violence when he was in the apartment and tried to save one woman being raped. He and a few other men were punished for trying to help and were severely beaten by the guards. As another part of his punishment he was thrown off the back of a moving truck which gave him the chance to run away. When he was running he saw a police car and told the police officer what had happened. The police officer helped him and he is now a legal permanent residence working in construction.
Nasreen
Nasreen was sent to live with her uncle in New York at the age of 15. Her family sent her after they had financial troubles in Central Asia. When she arrived in New York her uncle put her right to work even though she was promised to be registered in school. She had to do domestic work in her uncle’s home all day and every night she would work in his store as a cashier. She was never offered any pay and her uncle told her she was selfish when she asked to continue her education. She was forced to live like this for two years until she decided to run away. Nasreen met a case manager and stayed in a youth shelter for 30 days. She eventually met a family from the Muslim community that decided to take her in. The case manager worked with her and she just recently graduated high school. She is now in college studying to become a nurse.
Vishalie
Vishalie is a woman from India that came to the U.S to work as a nanny so she could support her family back home. She answered an ad in the newspaper and went for an interview. She went to go work for the Desai family but once she got to America the terms of work changed. Her passport was taken away and she was sent to work for another family, the Patel's, in New Jersey. The Patel's paid the Desai's directly and did not know that Vishalie was not receiving pay. When Vishallie asked about the Patel's about her wages they learned she was not getting paid. They drove her to meet Mr. Desai and she began working for him again under the same terrible conditions including not being paid, being physically abused, and not having any days off. Eventually Vishallie was able to escape with the help of a concerned neighbor. Vishalie reported the Desai's and now has a T visa.