Eileen Ortega's Story: Exploitation and Deportation

In this episode of 'Boston Stories and Numbers,' demographer Phil Granberry introduces the new audio series 'Emerging Latino Voices: Building Boston's Future,' focusing on the experiences of four Latino students at UMass Boston.

Eileen Ortega, a junior psychology major who moved from Laurel, Mississippi, shares her personal story. Narrating her family's challenges as Mexican immigrants under the U.S. Guest Worker Visa Program (H-2B Visa). Eileen recounts a 2008 immigration raid at Howard Industries that drastically affected her family. Through research and interviews, Eileen illustrates the harsh conditions faced by her parents and many other immigrant workers, emphasizing the exploitation within visa programs and the severe consequences of mass deportation. This episode highlights the resilience of immigrant communities amidst systemic challenges.

00:00 Introduction to Boston Stories and Numbers

00:19 Introducing Emerging Latino Voices

01:16 Eileen Ortega's Journey Begins

02:45 Life in Laurel, Mississippi

03:22 The Immigration Raid of 2008

04:29 Struggles and Resilience Post-Raid

12:50 The Labor Exploitation of Mexican workers from Bracero to H-2B Program

28:22 Boston: A New Beginning for Eileen

 Reflections on modern slavery