30 Years of PLA: A Conversation With Jillian Aguilar on Outreach to Farmworkers

The Pennsylvania Farmworker Project advocates for farmworkers across the state, working to improve workplace safety, strengthen health standards, and ensure fair wages. Jillian Aguilar, an Outreach Paralegal for the project, plays a key role in connecting directly with workers and supporting these efforts. In this interview, she shares insights into the project’s mission, what her day-to-day work looks like, and why this work is essential to the broader goals of PLA.

Can you walk us through what a typical week looks like for you as the Outreach Paralegal for the Pennsylvania Farmworker Project (PFP)?  

A typical week for me varies depending on the season. Currently, I am working on a mix of things, including client casework and the PFP website that we are hoping to launch before taxes are due in April. We often get a lot of questions from agricultural workers about taxes, so we hope this website will be a resource where they can find helpful information.  

Sometimes, we are invited to events by our partner organizations to give Know Your Rights presentations for agricultural workers. Marcos [Garcia Lua, PFP Outreach Coordinator] and I gave one about two weeks ago in Gettysburg.  

In a couple of weeks, agricultural workers with H-2A visas will arrive to start their season, which means farm labor camp outreach season will begin. Our goal as a unit is to conduct one outreach per week. When the agricultural workers’ season is here, our week is filled with preparing for outreach. This includes creating an itinerary, reaching out to partner organizations that would like to join, and traveling to labor camps to meet with farmworkers.  

Outreach is something that I always look forward to. I love working alongside our community partners and talking with farmworkers. Last fall, I had the opportunity to take Villanova law students with me on an outreach. I believe it is very important to get to know the population you are working with, and outreach is such a vital part of doing that.  
 

How do you first make contact with farmworkers, and what does building trust with that community look like in practice?  

Representation is very important when it comes to building trust. When you speak the same language and share similar cultural backgrounds, it becomes easier to create a shared sense of comfort.  

The first thing we do when we approach a group of workers is introduce ourselves. With everything going on with ICE, many people are more cautious and hesitant to talk to us, which is understandable. Because of this, we make sure to be transparent right away about who we are and why we are there.  

After we  introduce ourselves, we ask how they’re doing and how their day went. We always try to start a conversation with the people we are engaging with rather than jumping straight into providing them with legal information. Many of the workers live in very remote areas and often do not have much contact with people outside of their coworkers. That is why we give them the space to share whatever they want with us. Since I started this job, I have learned so much about how mushrooms are grown and harvested. Some workers like to talk about the work they do, and it is very beautiful to listen to and learn from them.  

What are the most common legal issues you see farmworkers facing in Pennsylvania?  

Currently, the most common legal issue is fear of immigration enforcement. A common misunderstanding about farmworkers is that they are all undocumented.  Many farmworkers come to the United States on a work visa, and their work and status in the U.S. are fully legal. Although agricultural workers may have different immigration statuses, most, if not all, are fearful of an encounter with immigration authorities. Many workers are afraid to speak up because of the risk of retaliation. People are also afraid to go to their medical appointments or other appointments because they worry ICE will be there. This fear extends to the rest of their family as well.  

I remember being at a meeting with a youth organization in Kennett Square, where they mentioned a decrease in youth participation in after-school programs because many children want to go home right away to make sure their parents made it back safely after work. It is very heartbreaking to see how this fear affects not just the workers, but their families and communities.  

Additionally, I have heard that some employers are using this fear to their advantage, threatening to report workers, regardless of their lawful status, to immigration authorities if they do not work long hours with little to no pay or if they complain about unsafe working conditions, unfair pay, or other workplace issues.    

Farmworkers often face significant barriers like language, geography, and fear of retaliation when it comes to accessing legal help. How do you navigate those in your outreach?  

One way we navigate these barriers is by meeting farmworkers where they are, both physically and culturally. Many of the workers we visit live in remote areas, so we drive directly to them. Because the office is based in Philadelphia, and we cover the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, it is unrealistic to expect people to come to us.  

We also emphasize that we are there to support them. We do not take any action unless they ask us to or feel comfortable moving forward. In a workplace where they may be accustomed to being told what to do or feel pressured by employers, this approach helps shift the power back to them. It shows that they have control over the interaction and can make decisions for themselves, which is essential for building trust and ensuring they feel safe accessing legal support.  

Can you share a moment from your work that has stayed with you, something that captures why this project matters?  

There are two moments that stick out to me. One day, we were doing outreach with the Mexican consulate, and at the end of their talk, they said to the  farmworkers something along the lines of, “You should be proud of the work you do.” After they said that, you could see how big and bright the workers’ faces lit up. It was something so beautiful to witness.  

Recently, more than ever, we have seen harmful narratives being pushed about farmworkers, but those narratives could not be further from the truth. So, I’m glad that, in that moment, we were able to remind them that we see them and that they are valued.  

After that day, I began incorporating that message into my own conversations with farmworkers. When we do farm labor camp outreach, our focus is not only to share resources and information but also to make them feel seen, heard, valued, and respected.  

A second moment is that almost every conversation I have with someone ends with them thanking us for the work we do, for being a resource to them, and for taking the time to talk with them. Sometimes, I find myself feeling discouraged. But every time I connect with someone, whether it is a client or someone I meet during outreach, I am reminded of why this project matters.  

This project means a lot to me, and I feel very lucky to be able to do this type of work. As the child of agricultural workers, and as someone who began working as a farmworker at the age of 13, I am grateful that I can give back to my community.  

Philadelphia Legal Assistance is turning 30 this year. How does the Farmworker Project fit into PLA's broader mission, and what makes it distinctive within the organization?  

I think the Pennsylvania Farmworker Project fits into PLA’s broader mission by directly enforcing and protecting the rights of a highly vulnerable community. We also collaborate frequently with different organizations in the area. For example, there are meetings hosted by community organizations that serve the farmworker community, and we try to attend whenever possible to share information, coordinate resources, and find ways to actively advocate for farmworker rights. We also work collaboratively within our own organization. For example, I am currently working closely with Lazlo Beh, Supervising Attorney for the Taxpayer Support Clinic, on a tax project.  

Something that sets us apart from other units is the amount of outreach we do. We are constantly traveling to farm labor camps, tabling at community events, and giving presentations across the state of Pennsylvania. I believe we are the only unit that provides legal services to people who live outside of Philadelphia, which is great.  

PLA is a wonderful organization, and I am grateful that I get to use my skills and experience to support a community that is often overlooked and one that means so much to me.  

A lot of the farmworker community is seasonal and transient. How do you maintain continuity of service and relationships with people who may only be in the region for part of the year?  

Our goal is to return to campsites we have already visited at least once a year, since many workers return to the same labor camp year after year. Visiting campsites regularly helps us build trust over time and maintain relationships.  

There have been several times when I have done outreach with Marcos and Ale [Alvarez Garcia, PFP Paralegal] and workers have recognized them from previous visits. Every time this happens, I am always amazed. It shows that we have created a sense of familiarity with one another.  

What do you wish more Pennsylvanians understood about the lives and legal vulnerabilities of the people you serve?  

I wish more Pennsylvanians understood that agricultural workers deserve rights simply because they are human beings, not because of the economic value they produce. Too often, their worth is tied to their labor rather than their dignity. I think we need to shift that perspective by recognizing their humanity first and ensuring they are treated with the respect, protection, and rights they deserve.  

What does the next chapter of this work look like to you? What would you want the Farmworker Project to accomplish in the years ahead?  

Something I want to work on next is making outreach more accessible to workers who may not know how to read or who struggle with reading. I want to focus on using more visuals, audio, and simple, clear messaging so that information is easier to understand regardless of literacy level.  

The team has also been discussing TikTok as a way to provide information without relying on text. Maybe you will see us on your phone screen soon!