In the United States, immigrants accept extremely low pay in exchange for performing some of society's most hazardous and grueling jobs. These individuals also face a number of social stigmas, including racial profiling and discrimination, both in and out of the workplace. The Southern Poverty Law Center advocates for these individuals as legal representatives and as active advocates for immigration reform.
The Southern Poverty Law Center works to promote reform of the United States Guestworker Program, which makes certain employees ineligible for legal protections. Without the Center, employers may unjustly withhold wages, confiscate identification documents, and even prevent workers from changing jobs to avoid mistreatment. The Center represents many guest workers who have experienced such injustices, even when other attorneys have refused to take their cases. The Center also remains dedicated to filing class-action lawsuits against employers who have mistreated guest workers, while publicizing violations of civil rights and urging litigation reform.