Comment by sremani
10 years ago
This is disturbing but hardly surprising. US is dotted with slave labor camps from meat-packing towns in mid-west to underground garment factories in Los Angeles. This is where the perpetrators use the immigration law as a tool of their exploitation and enforcement, even if the worker involved or should I say, especially when the worker involved is legally here. On the other hand, the complete absence of Indian Consular services or the myriad of Indian cultural organizations in the story is appalling.
I am just glad they had someone who would listen to them and act on it (the pastor/priest at their church). Good on the SPLC too for taking them on.
Glad the workers took action... if not, when their visa ended in 30 months they would have gone home abused.
The Indian Consular Service has never had a reputation for worrying about Indians - they do their best not to ruffle the feathers of their hosts. Your best bet with them is hoping that you reach the odd 'good-guy/gal' at the consulate.
> the complete absence of Indian Consular services or the myriad of Indian cultural organizations in the story is appalling.
Amazing considering how many Indians pour millions into temples and such in the US.
But you cannot improve consular services by pouring millions :(
Edit: I see this was downvoted, my point was that it's not the lack of millions, but the attitude of the people that run it that makes consular services suck.
Compare the silence here with the fuss made in the Devyani Khorbhade case.
Crows always defend fellow crows.
If you have ever seen that in action, you'll totally understand. It's a fact of nature. Same for cops etc.
And let's not forget the prison system, which is basically legalized slavery.