Immigration: More than a borderline issue’


By Tasha Kates MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: October 17, 2008

A U.S. district court in Georgia has ruled in favor of migrant tree planters who claimed that their employer did not pay them a prevailing wage as required.

The win comes just before Charlottesville’s Legal Aid Justice Center’s annual community education event and benefit on Thursday. The event will focus on immigration and the 10-year anniversary of the center’s Immigrant Advocacy Program.
On Oct. 7, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper ruled that Eller & Sons Trees Inc. and owner Jerry Eller would have to pay $53,890.86 to three defendants represented by the center. Tim Freilich, the legal director of the center’s immigrant program, said the judge did not specify a cap for the 3,000 other Eller employees who weren’t paid properly.

“That will send a strong message to the timber industry that they cannot abuse and exploit the workers who plant trees for them,â€