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Migrant Workers of the Virginia Tidewater

Father Michael McAndrew

Father Michael McAndrew is a redemptorist missionary and a social director of the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network. Father McAndrew talks about his path to helping migrant workers and incarcerated people throughout the country. He discusses the types of challenges that he faces with INS and ICE during his work and how his job has evolved over time. Father McAndrew explains U.S. raiding practices and how they affected migrant workers. He further explains ways that the migrant workers overcame struggles caused by the raids.

Below are several excerpts from our full interview with Father Michael McAndrew. Some of these clips were included in our telling of this story, Some haven't! You can view all of our clips below, and the full interview can be located at the bottom of the page.

How One Raid Altered Father McAndrew's Professional Life and Outlook

How the legal system changed between I.N.S. and I.C.E.

The types of challenges faced when working in migrant communities

"Why He Began Working with Migrant Workers"

Full Oral History Interview

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5. Gregorio Lucas Caspar Mr. Gregorio Lucas Caspar is a part of the Virginia Tidewater Main Street Project. Mr. Caspar came from Mexico to continue working in agriculture along with his brother and sister. In his interview he talks about his experience working on farms in the United States. His job as well as his friends’ and familys’ jobs have been affected greatly by the pandemic as well as new policies within the United States.
10. Mateo Gomez Mr. Mateo Gomez is a migrant worker from the Chesapeake Bay area. He talks about how he has adapted to working on the coast during times of political and social change as well as the effects it has on him and his family. Mr. Gomez discusses the language barrier challenges in the working environment that he is in and how it is important to rely on the workers like they are family. Working together creates a longlasting bond that carries them throughout the season until their contract is up and pushes them to work hard not only for the company but for their families that they are supporting.

How One Raid Altered Father McAndrew's Professional Life and Outlook

How the legal system changed between I.N.S. and I.C.E.

The types of challenges faced when working in migrant communities

"Why He Began Working with Migrant Workers"

Full Oral History Interview

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