Coalition of Immokalee Workers

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is a grassroots organization in the United States that works to improve working conditions and wages for farmworkers, many of whom are vulnerable to labor trafficking. The organization has developed programs to monitor working conditions in the agriculture industry, to educate workers about their rights, and to work with growers and retailers to improve labor practices. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers has also advocated for policy changes at the state and federal levels to improve labor conditions and prevent trafficking.

 

Owner Of Farm Labor Contracting Company Pleads Guilty In Racketeering Conspiracy Involving The Forced Labor Of Mexican Workers
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Owner Of Farm Labor Contracting Company Pleads Guilty In Racketeering Conspiracy Involving The Forced Labor Of Mexican Workers

WASHINGTON —Bladimir Moreno, 55, pleaded guilty in federal court in Tampa, Florida, to charges of conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and conspiracy to commit forced labor. A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida had previously returned a six-count indictment against multiple defendants for their roles in a…

ATEST Urges California’s Governor to Sign Bill Regulating Foreign Labor Recruitment
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ATEST Urges California’s Governor to Sign Bill Regulating Foreign Labor Recruitment

Terry FitzPatrick California has often been a human rights trendsetter, and Governor Gavin Newsom has an opportunity this month to extend safeguards for temporary migrant workers who are too easily exploited in forced labor, debt bondage and other forms of severe labor abuses.. The State Assembly has passed AB 364, which ATEST has endorsed, to…

New Statistics Underscore Need for Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act and Significant Increase in Funding for Anti-trafficking Programs | ATEST Releases Updated Fact Sheet for Federal Candidates in 2022 Midterms
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New Statistics Underscore Need for Reauthorization of Trafficking Victims Protection Act and Significant Increase in Funding for Anti-trafficking Programs | ATEST Releases Updated Fact Sheet for Federal Candidates in 2022 Midterms

Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – This week’s release of the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery is an urgent call to action. More people have been trafficked into forced labor worldwide than ever before. Globally, 28 million people are toiling against their will every day at factories, construction sites, mines, farms, brothels, and in private homes…

ATEST Recommendations to U.S. Trade Representative on Developing a Forced Labor Trade Policy
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ATEST Recommendations to U.S. Trade Representative on Developing a Forced Labor Trade Policy

Terry FitzPatrick August 5, 2022 The Honorable Katherine Tai U.S. Trade Representative Washington, DC Electronic Submission to Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov Docket Number USTR–2022–0006 Re: Trade Strategy to Combat Forced Labor Dear Ambassador Tai, Thank you for your leadership in the battle against forced labor by announcing that your office will develop a Forced Labor…

ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act
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ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act

ATEST Applauds Overwhelming Bipartisan House Passage of the First of Four Bills to Reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act July 27, 2022 • 5:37 pm • Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – Legislation to reauthorize the key law that underpins the U.S. government’s efforts to combat human trafficking and forced labor has passed the House of Representatives with…

2022 TIP Report Underscores that Extensive Work is Needed to Improve Global Efforts to Protect People from Human Traffickers
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2022 TIP Report Underscores that Extensive Work is Needed to Improve Global Efforts to Protect People from Human Traffickers

Terry FitzPatrick WASHINGTON – The 2022 U.S. State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, which reviews responses by governments to combat human trafficking and forced labor worldwide, reveals that significant increases in political will and funding are needed to meaningfully improve global efforts to end forced labor and sex trafficking. The 2022 report chronicles…

ATEST Urges Quick Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
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ATEST Urges Quick Confirmation of Cindy Dyer as Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons

WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) applauds President Biden’s recent nomination of Cindy Dyer to direct the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), with the rank of Ambassador at Large. We urge the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the full Senate to quickly confirm her nomination.

ATEST Endorses Key Bills to Reauthorize and Strengthen Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs
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ATEST Endorses Key Bills to Reauthorize and Strengthen Federal Anti-Trafficking Programs

WASHINGTON — The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) is pleased to announce its endorsement of four bills that will reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). The bills each address different components of U.S. anti-trafficking policy and will progress U.S. government efforts to combat the scourge of labor and sex trafficking both inside…

ATEST Testifies to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on Ways to Plug Gaps in U.S. Anti-trafficking Programs
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ATEST Testifies to House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security on Ways to Plug Gaps in U.S. Anti-trafficking Programs

April 27, 2022 • 8:37 am • Terry FitzPatrick ATEST is was well represented at Wednesday’s herring of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Speakers at the session included: ATEST Director Terry FitzPatrick (see written testimony here) ATEST member organization Human Trafficking Legal Center Founder and President Martina Vandenberg (see written…

ATEST Advocates for $1.3 Billion in Federal Funding to Combat Human Trafficking and its Root Causes
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ATEST Advocates for $1.3 Billion in Federal Funding to Combat Human Trafficking and its Root Causes

WASHINGTON – The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking (ATEST) is asking Congress for substantial increases in federal appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023 to combat human trafficking inside the U.S. and around the world.