Federal Trial Begins Over Labor Trafficking Allegations in Michigan

News Summary

A federal trial regarding labor trafficking and wage theft allegations against Purpose Point Harvesting LLC is set to begin on May 29, 2025. The case involves five Guatemalan workers who claim they were subjected to excessive working hours, wage withholding, and threats while employed under the H-2A visa program. Purpose Point Harvesting denies the allegations, which include illegal recruitment fees and intimidation tactics to control the workers. The trial is expected to address significant labor protection issues within Michigan’s agricultural sector.

Grand Rapids, Michigan – A federal trial concerning serious allegations of labor trafficking, wage theft, and forced labor against Purpose Point Harvesting LLC, a farm labor contractor based in West Michigan, is set to begin on May 29, 2025, at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The case involves five Guatemalan workers who claim they were coerced into excessive working hours and faced dire circumstances while employed by the contractor.

The lawsuit, filed in 2022, alleges that from 2017 to 2019, Purpose Point Harvesting confiscated the workers’ passports and threatened them with retaliation if they complained about their working conditions. The plaintiffs report that they were employed under the H-2A program, which allows for the temporary hiring of foreign agricultural workers, and that the contractor underpaid them while charging illegal recruitment fees.

According to the allegations, Purpose Point Harvesting withheld wages by compensating the workers only for a maximum of 60 hours per week, even though they often worked up to 100 hours. This violation of labor regulations is particularly concerning for the H-2A visa program, which mandates fair compensation and protections for workers. The Guatemalan workers report having originally earned about $13 a day in their home country, only to be promised higher wages of at least $12.75 per hour in Michigan.

Attorneys involved in the case indicate that the allegations represent a significant instance of labor trafficking that will be examined in detail during the trial. Purpose Point Harvesting, operated by Emilto Moreno Gomez and Lucille Jean Moreno, denies the claims against them and have issued counterclaims against the workers involved.

Recruitment Fees and Control Over Workers

The workers allege that each was charged a $2,500 recruitment fee, an illegal act under U.S. labor laws. Furthermore, it is claimed that the contractor exerted control over the workers’ bank accounts, limiting their ability to access their earnings. The allegations also include threats directed towards workers to discourage them from voicing complaints, such as claims of tainting their passports to block them from future employment under the H-2A program.

Incidents reportedly occurred in which some workers attempted to leave but were threatened with police involvement, suggesting a level of intimidation designed to keep the workers from seeking help or leaving the employment situation. Migrant Legal Aid, which is representing the plaintiffs alongside the law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, notes that such threats typically prevent many H-2A workers from addressing their grievances due to fear of retaliation affecting both their income and immigration status.

Background of H-2A Program and Purpose Point Harvesting

The trial comes amid a growing trend in the agricultural labor market in Michigan, where the number of H-2A workers has quadrupled over the last decade due to increased demand for foreign labor. Purpose Point Harvesting currently employs approximately 166 workers, a significant increase from just 14, primarily from Guatemala, to assist in crop harvesting in the region.

Previous allegations have surfaced concerning labor exploitation on Michigan farms in the past, with some resulting in settlements. The upcoming trial will be an important test of labor protections for foreign agricultural workers in the state. Jury selection for the trial will occur before the hearing, which is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on May 29 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

• MLive: Michigan Farm Contractor Accused of Trafficking Workers
• Wikipedia: H-2A_visa
• Geauga Maple Leaf: Chester Spa Closed Following Prostitution Raid
• Google Search: Migrant worker rights
• Detroit Free Press: Migrant Farmworkers and COVID-19
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Labor Law
• Mongabay: To Help Stop Illegal Fishing
• Google Scholar: Migrant worker exploitation