Seeds of injustice: Payne-Sturges highlights the exploitation of migrant farmworkers
In a new op-ed for The Baltimore Sun, MPRC Associate Devon Payne-Sturges sheds light on the harsh realities faced by migrant seasonal farmworkers in Maryland, challenging the common perception that human trafficking is solely confined to sex trafficking.
Payne-Sturges recounts firsthand experiences with over 40 migrant farmworkers from Mexico on H2A Temporary Agricultural Worker visas, revealing disturbing conditions such as confiscated passports, threats against families, and inadequate meals. Payne-Sturges argues that the existing H2A guest worker program managed by the U.S. Department of Labor since 1986, has consistently failed to safeguard workers from exploitation.
While acknowledging concerns about potential cost increases, the author contends that prioritizing the basic rights of workers should take precedence, calling for a united effort to prevent the continued exploitation and trafficking of farmworkers under the H2A program. The op-ed concludes by advocating for the publication of comprehensive data on the farm labor system by government agencies.