A federal trial addressing labor trafficking allegations in Michigan.
A federal trial has commenced against Purpose Point Harvesting LLC, accused of trafficking and labor violations involving Guatemalan workers. The trial in Michigan’s Western District will examine allegations of illegal fees, excessive hours, and controls over the workers’ lives. Testimonies reveal oppressive working conditions, with the outcome potentially influencing migrant worker rights in agriculture.
Lansing, Michigan – A federal trial commenced on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, against Purpose Point Harvesting LLC, a farm labor contractor accused of trafficking and violating labor laws involving Guatemalan workers. The trial is taking place in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan before Judge Jane Beckering.
The allegations against Purpose Point Harvesting and its operators, Emilto Moreno Gomez and Lucille Jean Moreno, stem from a lawsuit filed in 2022 by a group of Guatemalan farmworkers. The plaintiffs contend that the contractor charged illegal recruitment fees, coerced them into working excessive hours, and underpaid them between 2017 and 2019. The workers assert that their passports were confiscated, their bank accounts were controlled by the defendants, and they faced threats if they attempted to leave their employment.
In response to the allegations, the defendants deny any wrongdoing and have filed counterclaims against the workers, asserting that the lawsuit is untrue. The trial is expected to last approximately seven days, with a jury of eight members already selected to hear the case. The plaintiffs are set to present their evidence first.
The opening statements from the plaintiffs’ attorney highlighted that the farmworkers were “deprived of freedom” and forced into a “web of control.” Witness testimonies included those from Rubicella Berumen, a representative from the Michigan Department of Labor, who conducted wellness checks for the workers.
One of the plaintiffs, Darwin Joel Fuentes Perez, shared his experience of being recruited in 2017, where he paid $2,500 in fees. He provided details of his grueling work schedule, which began at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. and extended until 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. Fuentes claimed that his initial paycheck of $300 was significantly lower than expected based on the hours he worked, with working hours frequently reaching up to 19 hours a day, especially during the peak asparagus harvest season.
Another plaintiff, Luis Gomez-Echeverria, began his testimony shortly after Fuentes, adding more details about their circumstances. The defendants’ legal team plans to challenge the accuracy of the plaintiffs’ claims regarding average working hours as the trial continues.
Purpose Point Harvesting has faced prior lawsuits and investigations concerning similar allegations of labor violations, raising concerns about ongoing issues of wage theft and labor trafficking within the H-2A visa program, which covers migrant agricultural workers. There has been a notable rise in the number of H-2A workers reported in Michigan, intensifying scrutiny over labor conditions and potential exploitation.
The outcome of this trial could have significant implications for the agricultural industry, particularly regarding how cases involving migrant workers’ rights are handled. The ruling may set a precedent that influences future cases and policies related to labor trafficking and exploitation in agriculture.
As the trial unfolds, the focus will remain on the testimonies and evidence presented that examine the working conditions and treatment of migrant laborers in Michigan’s agriculture sector.
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