Attorney General Ken Paxton has wrangled another business into compliance with Texas law. 

Austin Eco Bilingual School is a Spanish immersion preschool operated by Adriana and Enrique Rodriguez. Back in 2021, Paxton levied a civil racketeering lawsuit against the business and Adriana Rodriguez for allegedly labor trafficking seven employees with promises of legal status. 

According to the attorney general, the school’s foreign-born workers were promised good pay and a rewarding career along with lawful status in Texas but instead were subjected to labor trafficking and exploited for their work. 

The lawsuit states that Adriana Rodriguez regularly threatened the employees with arrest and deportation if they decided not to work. 

One victim even quoted her as saying that she is a “very important person” who could destroy them whenever she chose—including potentially calling U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest the workers. 

Paxton announced a $250,000 settlement against the school on Wednesday. The fine represents the maximum monetary penalty for violating Texas’ civil laws against trafficking. 

“This settlement will ensure that no one is subjected to the horrors of human trafficking or unlawful labor practices,” said Paxton. “The actions alleged in the lawsuit were despicable and I am pleased to have secured justice for the victims.” 

“I will use every tool at my disposal to prevent companies from operating unlawful labor trafficking schemes using imported foreign workers,” he concluded. 

Will Biagini

Will currently serves as the Field Reporter with Texas Scorecard. He was born in Louisiana and graduated from Florida State University.

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