FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Shubhangi Domokos, 916-934-6963

SACRAMENTO – (Friday, January 13, 2023) – Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, leader of the California Labor Federation, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced guidance that noncitizen workers who are victims of, or witnesses to, labor rights violations can now access a streamlined and expedited deferred action request process to avoid deportation and threats of immigration-related retaliation from exploitative employers.

“We are seeing an unprecedented wave of workers organizing here in California and across the country. Too often, when workers come together to fight for better wages and working conditions, the bosses use immigration status to divide workers and keep them in the shadows,” Gonzalez Fletcher said. “The guidance released today by the Department of Homeland Security will help ensure that workers can freely exercise their rights, report wage theft and unsafe worksites without fear of immigration threats. This raises standards for all workers and helps our state agencies effectively enforce basic labor laws.”

The California Labor Federation represents over 1,200 affiliate unions in California that represent over 2.2 million union members in retail, hospitality, and other service sector jobs, janitorial, construction, manufacturing, health care, local and state government, education, arts and entertainment, and other industries.

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