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LAS Secures Certifications for Victims of Labor Trafficking

Attorneys at The Legal Aid Society are at the forefront of understanding how policy changes at many levels of government can positively impact the clients they serve.

Laura Berger, an immigration attorney in the Criminal Defense Practice’s Exploitation Intervention Project, recently helped immigrants obtain some of the first T Visa certifications from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under a new policy to support labor abuse and trafficking survivors.

Berger’s clients had been the victims of labor trafficking while taking part in relief efforts in Florida after Hurricane Ian, where they had been forced to work in unsafe conditions without protective gear.

Berger’s clients have submitted applications for T visa status with federal immigration authorities. If approved, Berger’s clients would be able to live and work in the United States for up to four years and be eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency.