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MARCO'S STORY 51 <br />"My name is Marco Antonio <br />Ramirez Jimenez. I come from <br />Mexico. I have been in the U.S. for <br />three years. I came here fora better <br />life. I have two children, 10 and 15. <br />Being here in the U.S. is not what <br />everyone tells us because once I <br />was there everything was different. <br />Things are different. I have worked <br />with bosses that don't care. They <br />don't worry if we don't eat. They <br />don't worry if we aren't well. <br />They don't care if we are sick. They <br />just want us to work. They obligate <br />us to work because if we don't <br />work they don't pay us. When I <br />came here I had issues coming to <br />the country because I came with <br />people that sold me. They sold me <br />to other people. When I got here I <br />already owed $11,000 that I had to <br />pay from my salary. <br />I was living in Pennsylvania when I <br />arrived (in the U.S.). I was there for <br />three months. After that, I went to <br />Ohio. I was working (for a woman). <br />She required us to work. She exploited us. <br />Sometimes she didn't give us any food, but she <br />wanted us to work. <br />Also, she took our money. She wanted us to pay <br />her taxes. She took 10% of our money. From our <br />salaries, she took our money. Not if we wanted. <br />She just took it. Sometimes she used to tell us <br />that she didn't get paid and then she said she <br />couldn't pay us. <br />After I was able to not owe her any money, I <br />left and went to Chicago. I was there for four <br />months. Once again, I worked for a Latino and <br />the same thing, he didn't take care of us. He <br />just wanted us to work and work and work. He'd <br />spend all of the money on alcohol. Today he still <br />owes us money. He didn't pay us and he's not <br />thinking about paying us. <br />51 Transcription from April 2022 video. <br />After that, I came to Minnesota. I have been <br />here for approximately one year. I was working <br />for Environmental StoneWorks. I had an acci- <br />dent with the contractor I was working for. I was <br />working on a house. I fell from a ladder. I broke <br />my foot. I called the boss so he could do some- <br />thing, but he didn't do anything. <br />He didn't take care of me. I called him. He <br />threatened me saying if we look for him or if we <br />go to his house to get him or if we went to his <br />job sites he will call the cops on us. <br />He (former boss) hasn't done anything for what <br />has happened. I have a plate on my foot (ankle) <br />and I can't be in the cold or run. I cannot put <br />weight (on it) when I walk. I had to stop doing <br />heavy things because of it. <br />That is why I am fighting, so all of this can end. <br />We need for this to end because we are only <br />obligated to work, but they don't take care of <br />us." <br />14 North Star Policy Action <br />