Employees who claim their immigration status have been used against them like a weapon

Irma Mejia hoped her transfer inside the garage along with her 3 kids would only be temporary. Then, she claims her most recent manager informed her that she would only receive half of what was due on the first paycheck following the implementation of epidemic lockdowns.

Mejia says, “I believed if you weren’t able to pay me, you might have informed me.” Since I get to choose whether or not I work here, correct? I’ll only put in the time if you’re only going to pay me for those.

Mejia, 45, was somewhat surprised. Even though she resided in a garage, her $750 rent remained due. She was powerless. She claims that because she was illegal and realized she could have no legal safeguards in a labor disagreement, her boss at a laundromat in the Boyle Heights district, east of Los Angeles, decided not to give her entire salary.

Mejia claims that after battling for her rightful compensation for 4 months, she gave up. She claims she failed to stay on track throughout the craziness of the beginning stages of the global epidemic, but she thinks she is still due nearly half of her entire salary. She claims she has given up on getting that money back.