Gallinger Law Successfully Assists Victim of Human Trafficking
Recently, Gallinger Law volunteered pro-bono through the Public Law Center assisted a victim of human trafficking obtain a T-Visa. The T Visa provides protection for victims of a severe form of human trafficking. A T Visa allows someone to stay in the US and help federal authorities while they investigate and prosecute human trafficking offenses. After obtaining a T Visa a victim can then qualify to apply for permanent residency.
Our client was one of hundreds of Thai workers coerced into coming into the US and subjected to forced labor. He was promised a job, a living space, and many other things that would have afforded him an opportunity to blossom here in the US. However, this was not the case. After arriving in the US, our client realized that what he was promised vastly differed from the reality he was forced to endure. The actions requested were so detrimental to his legal status back in his homeland that he would have suffered unusual and severe harm if he returned home.
He and other victims were trafficked to the US to provide forced labor or services through fraud and coercion, for the purpose of subjecting them to slavery, debt bondage or involuntary service. Our client was food deprived, forced to live in a one bedroom space with 30 other people, physically and emotionally abused/beaten, had his travel documents confiscated, and had his livelihood threatened. It wasn’t until he found a way to escape his confinement that he was able to seek help and legal aid. Our client along with other trafficked victims reported the organization that brought them here and aided federal prosecutors in their investigation.
Gallinger Law worked with a Los Angeles Based Community Center to help provide our client an opportunity to start a new life in the US by obtaining this T-1 Visa. Now, the chance to meaningfully provide for family, friends, and possibly others who may have been subjected to the same circumstance is at our client’s finger tips.
Throughout the history of the United States, people have been determined to come to here as a means to obtain a better life for themselves and their family members. Organizations and persons prey on those desires in unimaginable ways. Our firm was proud to help give back the American dream to our client. If you or anyone you know was been a victim of human trafficking, please contact an aid organization or a qualified attorney as soon as possible.
