CASA of Maryland rescued two domestic workers from the homes of South American diplomats in June, ending a long ordeal in which police, Secret Service and State Department officials intervened, according to the immigrant organization.
CASA would not reveal the identity of the diplomats or the location of the homes, except to say that one was in Rockville and the other was in the Briggs-Chaney neighborhood of Silver Spring. The organization revealed details of the rescues Friday to highlight a report documenting abuses committed against domestic workers in Montgomery County.
“When we came here, everything changed,” said one woman in a statement provided by CASA of Maryland. “They know you don’t have family, you don’t speak the language. They know they can do whatever they want withyou.”
Both women worked long hours, with low pay and were psychologically abused, said Alexis De Simone, women’s organizer for CASA.
The domestic worker at the Briggs-Chaney home worked seven days a week sometimes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., and was not allowed to leave without an escort, De Simone said. The woman had worked for the diplomats for eight years in her home country and about nine months in the United States.
When the domestic worker tried to leave June 2, the diplomat blocked her from exiting, telling her that she would be deported, De Simone said. Montgomery County and Secret Service police, who were prohibited from taking direct action because of diplomatic immunity, knocked on the door and explained that the woman was free to leave, De Simone said. After six hours, the domestic worker left the home.
Montgomery County police said they could not provide an incident report Friday without an address.
The other domestic worker, who was from Brazil, was allowed to leave one day a week. She was able to escape after telling her bosses that she was going out for pizza, De Simone said. CASA is providing shelter and legal advice for both women, she said.
