Cristopher was thrilled to be fulfilling his lifelong dream to work in the United States. After his labor recruiter in the Philippines showed him a signed job offer at a resort in the Appalachian mountains, he paid them nearly $5,000 for the opportunity.

But when he arrived in the U.S., he was told the job didn’t exist. He was told to get on a bus to a Gulf state and traveled for 3 days with no money for food or water. When he arrived, he had to clean hotel rooms for 15-18 hours per day at a significantly lower wage, was constantly monitored, and threatened with deportation.

Cristopher was worried for his family and unsure how he would repay his debt to his recruiter.

Cristopher is a client of Polaris and wanted to share his story.

Names, identifying information, and case details may have been changed to respect confidentiality and protect the individuals we serve.