This week, CDM filed a friend-of-the-court brief opposing employer-led efforts to dismantle key worker protections included in the 2024 H-2 program rule issued by the Biden Administration.
From the beginning, corporations and low-road employers pushed back against a few of the rule’s worker-centered provisions. But now, they’re asking the court to throw out the rule entirely.
We can’t let that happen.
The 2024 rule includes critical, life-changing protections for migrant workers. It gives workers the freedom to leave abusive employers and seek new job opportunities without jeopardizing their visa status. It extends whistleblower protections to those who speak out about abuse. And it strengthens the ban on recruitment fees — a common source of debt and coercion for H-2 workers.
These aren’t just policy changes — they are essential safeguards that protect lives.
That’s why we’re fighting back.
Our brief, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas (Galveston Division), outlines how the 2024 rule addresses longstanding structural flaws in the H-2 program. These improvements help shift the balance of power, giving workers more agency and better protections against exploitation.
We are proud to stand alongside thousands of migrant workers in defending these hard-won gains.
A heartfelt thank you to our partners at Public Citizen and Fair Labor Law, who are representing CDM in this critical case.
You can help us continue the fight.
Your support makes this work possible. As we defend these vital protections in court, your donation helps us stand stronger alongside migrant workers — in legal battles, policy advocacy, and on-the-ground organizing. Make a contribution today.