MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The popular taco truck chain TACOnganas is under federal investigation for compliance with labor laws.
We first told you about the case last week.
RELATED: Owner of Memphis taco truck chain under investigation for mistreatment of employees
Immigration attorneys in Memphis said the employees who work there are afraid to speak up about the poor conditions they face every day.
“He was looking for people down in Mexico to bring here,” said an anonymous employee who didn’t want to be on camera for safety reasons.
In a job advertisement from 2021, TACOnganas owner Greg Diaz was actively recruiting people from Mexico to come work for his food trucks in Memphis.
It reads in part, “Some of you contacted me and I traveled to Mexico City to interview you personally and offer you the opportunity you had dreamed of.”
The post also advertises working six days a week, 12 hours a day, for less than 700 dollars. That’s just over nine dollars an hour with no overtime.
“In this kind of case, they were lied to in that aspect. They came here and didn’t get their American dream,” said Cooper Law firm Immigration associate attorney, Brandi Price.
Attorney Brandi Price is an immigration law expert. Her firm, the Cooper Law Firm is offering free consultation services to TACOnganas employees, after seeing reports about the labor investigation.
Another immigration attorney tells me it is common for immigrants to cross the border not knowing their legal rights.
“When we talk about labor trafficking, we talk about someone who recruits, they harbor, they transport, they provide, or they obtain a person for labor or services through force or fraud,” said Constance Brown, Immigration attorney at law offices of Jamie B. Naini.
This can spark a lot of fear for those working at TACOnganas to come forward.
“Tienen derechos y protecciones. no tienen que tener miedo. Hay gente que los quiere ayudar. Podemeos trabajar con ustedes sin ningun costo,” said Latino Memphis CEO Mauricio Calvo.
“They have rights and they have protections. You do not have to be afraid. There are people who want to help you. We can work with you at no cost.”
The CEO of Latino Memphis said there is no reason for those working at TACOngangas to be afraid. They have resources available at no cost.
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