With one swipe of the gavel, the US Supreme Court recently condoned the abuse and mistreatment of millions of undocumented workers at the hands of companies who take advantage of their legal work status.

The verdict determined that undocumented workers in this country should not receive the same protection under the law as US citizens, even when they are unjustly fired from their jobs.

The judgement was emitted during the trial that was going on involving the factory Hoffman Plastics and the National Board of Labor Relations. This agency requested that the court require the company to pay José Castro, a Mexican worker, the sum of 67,000 dollars in back pay. The company from California fired Castro, who is undocumented, when he tried to organize a labor union.

The justices pronounced themselves against requiring the company to pay Castro, alleging that the decision would violate US immigration laws. With this ruling, the justices have forgotten the supreme law of any society: the protection of people, regardless of their social or immigration status.

Thanks to this ruling, undocumented workers will not be able to be represented or defended by labor unions and will be exposed m ore than ever to all types of abuse from their employers which is now supported by a legal precedent to carry out these unjust practices.

This shameful decision by the Supreme Court, 5 in favor and 4 against, seems to ignore the 11 million undocumented workers that exist in the US. Many of these immigrants do the dirty work that US citizens don’t want, working in factories and in low paying labor centers that are unhealthy and dangerous.

Despite being undocumented, these immigrants carry out their job with sacrifice and dedication contributing to the profits of the companies for which they work, and subsequently for the country they live in.

The human rights organizations have raised their voices in protest against this unfair legislation. Senator Edward Kennedy has promised to push forth a new law that annuls this verdict by the Supreme Court.

The Department of Labor has already pronounced itself and sent a very clear message to all employers: the law will be vigorously enforced to protect immigrant workers, including undocumented workers, from any form of abuse and exploitation just as the laws dictate.

Thankfully, the last word has not been spoken yet.