‘Used as cheap labor’: luxury Aspen resort abused visa program, lawsuit says

Ex-employees at St Regis resort allege they were recruited under J-1 visa internship program and exploited to work for low wages

A class-action lawsuit filed by a former employee at a five-star hotel resort in Aspen, Colorado, alleges they and other workers were recruited under the J-1 visa internship program but exploited to work low-wage, menial duties rather than receive the internship training required under the visa program.

Daniel Esteban Camas Lopez, a culinary arts student from Mexico, came to Aspen in autumn2020 under the J-1 visa internship program. He was transferred to the St Regis Aspen resort operated by Marriott International in May 2021 to complete his internship when the hotel he worked at initially had closed for renovations after the busy winter season.