Migrant Legal Aid - Grand Rapids, MI

Championing Justice and Civil Rights for Michigan Farmworkers

For more than five decades, Migrant Legal Aid has stood on the front lines defending the dignity, safety, and legal rights of agricultural workers throughout Michigan. Originally founded in 1973 as the Michigan Migrant Legal Assistance Project, the Grand Rapids-based legal practice represents essential farmworkers who cultivate and harvest the state's agricultural abundance. Under the guidance of Executive Director and Senior Litigator Teresa Hendricks alongside Deputy Director Molly Spaak, the firm's staff attorneys litigate complex cases in state, federal, and administrative courts, bridging language barriers and addressing systemic workplace injustices.

Combating Wage Theft and Wage and Hour Violations

Agricultural laborers face significant vulnerabilities regarding compensation, including illegal payroll deductions, unpaid overtime, sub-minimum wages, and unpaid working hours. If farmworkers need a lawyer urgently to recover stolen pay, Migrant Legal Aid enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act. The firm files individual lawsuits and federal class actions to hold agricultural contractors and growers accountable, successfully recovering earned income and holding predatory employers legally liable.

Labor Trafficking Defense and Immigration Relief

Migrant laborers isolated in rural areas often face severe exploitation, coerced labor, and passport confiscation. Migrant Legal Aid actively investigates labor trafficking rings and provides compassionate representation for victims. The firm's immigration attorneys assist survivors in securing T-visas and U-visas, establishing lawful residency and preventing deportation. Retaining a skilled lawyer from the organization ensures that victims of violent crimes, human trafficking, or severe abuse receive comprehensive legal protections while assisting law enforcement investigations.

Safe Housing Advocacy and Pesticide Protection

Safe living and working environments are fundamental human rights. Migrant Legal Aid inspects agricultural labor camps across West Michigan, taking formal legal action against operators who maintain dangerous, unsanitary, or overcrowded migrant housing. In addition, the firm confronts pesticide exposure incidents, enforcing federal worker protection standards to safeguard field hands and their families from harmful chemical drift and hazardous working conditions.

Workplace Discrimination and Retaliation Protections

Farmworkers who voice concerns regarding workplace safety or unpaid wages frequently encounter unlawful termination, workplace harassment, or threats involving immigration authorities. The legal team vigorously defends workers against unlawful discrimination, retaliatory discharges, and civil rights abuses, ensuring laborers can assert their statutory rights without fear of reprisals.

Bilingual Legal Representation in Grand Rapids

Conveniently located at 1104 Fuller Avenue NE in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Migrant Legal Aid provides bilingual legal services in English and Spanish. Eligible agricultural workers receive comprehensive legal representation at no cost. If you or someone you know needs to find a lawyer or hire an attorney experienced in migrant employment rights, contact Migrant Legal Aid today.