Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a $250,000 settlement in a labor trafficking lawsuit against Austin Eco Bilingual School and its owners, Adriana and Enrique Rodriguez. The settlement is the maximum fine for violating Texas's civil anti-trafficking law.
In 2021, Paxton filed a civil racketeering action against the school and Adriana Rodriguez for trafficking at least seven employees. The lawsuit also accused Enrique Rodriguez of benefiting unlawfully from the scheme. According to the suit, the owners allegedly lured foreign-born workers to Texas with promises of lawful status, decent pay, and career opportunities but then trafficked them for labor.
The legal action claimed that Adriana Rodriguez, who was once recognized as Businesswoman of the Year by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, manipulated her employees' ability to work legally in the U.S. She allegedly threatened deportation or arrest if they did not comply with her demands for low or unpaid work. Court records indicate she used her connections with high-ranking officials to intimidate employees, with one victim quoting her as saying, “I am a very important person, and I can destroy you whenever I choose.”
“This settlement will ensure that no one is subjected to the horrors of human trafficking or unlawful labor practices,” stated Attorney General 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.”
The resolution was achieved through the courage of victims and cooperation from numerous witnesses. Anyone who may have been affected by labor trafficking at Austin Eco Bilingual School or elsewhere is encouraged to contact the Office of the Attorney General's Human Trafficking and Transnational/Organized Crime Section at (512) 463-1646 or [email protected].