Washington D.C. – On January 13th, 2023, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced a streamlined deferred action process that will protect immigrant workers involved in labor organizing and other labor disputes from threats of immigration-related retaliation by employers. In response to this policy announcement, UFW and UFW Foundation released the following statement. “The UFW welcomes DHS’ guidance addressing protections for immigrant workers who speak up about the violation of their labor rights from retaliatory deportations,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “For too long, agricultural employers have weaponized the threat of deportation to keep wages low, to suppress labor organizing, and to keep farm workers living in fear – which is just how agricultural employers like it. While we continue to hope that Congress will do the right thing for these essential workers, farm workers need the ability to assert their workplace rights free from threats of deportation now.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 13, 2023 19:32 UTC