Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Ben Gurion Airport airspace sut down following missile launch from Yemen
Israeli media: Air raid sirens sound in the central region and Hashfala following the detection of a missile launch from Yemen
SDF announces the killing of three of its members as a result of ISIS cells detonating a landmine targeting a vehicle of a security patrol on the Hasaka-Raqqa road
The Popular Resistance Committees: We call on all international institutions to take urgent action and uphold their responsibilities by restoring and immediately enforcing effective mechanisms for the distribution of humanitarian aid.
The Popular Resistance Committees: The latest Zio-American crime against Gaza’s starving civilians constitutes a war crime, for which the US administration bears full and direct responsibility.
Gaza Media Office: Bloody spectacle shows that these zones have become collective death traps rather than aid distribution zones.
Gaza Media Office: Dozens of citizens are still surrounded under constant fire in the vicinity of the "aid station."
Gaza Media Office: As soon as citizens arrived, occupation and Americans opened direct fire on them.
Gaza Media Office: Occupation, in complicity with the US company, called on citizens to move toward Wadi Gaza Bridge, claiming that aid would be distributed.
Gaza Government Media Office: Occupation set a bloody trap at bridge of Wadi Gaza, luring thousands of starved civilians, and opened fire on them.

Migrant slavery ring busted in Georgia, US

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Dec 2021 09:18
3 Min Read

More than 100 immigrant workers got liberated from inhuman working conditions in which two died, another was repeatedly raped, and others were kidnapped and threatened with death.

  • x
  • Migrant slavery ring busted in Georgia, US
    Migrants were forced to work under inhuman conditions in a migrant slavery ring. 

A grand jury in Georgia indicted two dozen people in a case of modern slavery involving an organized crime ring that exploited the H-2A visa program for migrant workers after more than 100 people were released from forced labor.

The 24 people were charged with dozens of felony offenses in the United States District Court, including forced labor, witness tampering, and mail fraud, among others.

The defendants allegedly made $200 million by importing migrants into the United States to work as agricultural workers in deplorable conditions, according to authorities.

The federal program stipulates that they be paid adequately, usually $10 to $12 per hour, yet they were paid very little or none at all.

Prosecutors accused the defendants of pocketing the rest of the money and using it to buy a nightclub and dozens of cars. According to the indictment, they also used a casino to launder millions of dollars.

Migrants die under forced labor 

Migrants' documents were taken away, leaving them unable to leave and seek help, according to federal authorities. They were frequently housed in overcrowded trailers with scarce food and no clean water.

Related News

‘Israel’ lost 'international legitimacy' for Gaza war: Israeli media

Challenges undermine Gulf States’ ambitions in AI development: FT

Reportedly at least two migrants died and another was repeatedly raped, according to authorities.

In a statement, US Attorney David Estes said the case had released "more than 100 individuals from the shackles of modern-day slavery and will hold those who enslaved them accountable."

Authorities said an investigation that began three years ago broke up the criminal enterprise.

According to the indictment, the laborers were made to pay illegal costs for transportation, food, and housing, and their travel and identification cards were withheld.

According to court papers, some people who were promised up to $12 an hour to work on fields in rural South Georgia were instead forced to dig onions with their bare hands and were paid only 20 cents per filled bucket with armed men holding them at gunpoint.

The legalities 

Arraignments in the case have been scheduled for December 21 and January 6 at the federal courthouse in Waycross.

The two dozen defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury in Waycross in October. It was only when a court released the document in late November that it became public.

According to the indictment, the defendants have utilized H-2A visa petitions to bring dozens of migrant laborers into the United States as agricultural workers since at least 2015. Workers must be paid properly and reimbursed for expenditures like food and accommodation under the government program.

Instead, the defendants kept the majority of the money owed to the workers, according to prosecutors.

According to the indictment, they laundered their proceeds by purchasing land, residences, and a restaurant with cash.

  • Georgia
  • United States
  • Human Trafficking
  • Mexico
  • Guatemala

Most Read

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS