Luisa Medrana, a naturalized U.S. citizen who emigrated from El Salvador in 1974, employed undocumented Hondurans at her bars in New Jersey. She was part of a smuggling ring that brought more than 20 young women and teenagers from small villages in Honduras with promises of employment as waitresses and then forced them to work at bars. The victims worked at the bars six days a week, from 6 pm until 2 am, for $240 a week, and lived at apartments Medrana owned. They were not allowed to leave the apartments in their free time. The victims, including four minors, were told to get patrons to buy them beer, and would dance with the patrons for $3 a dance. The women were beaten, threatened, and forced to have abortions. Medrana pled guilty to human trafficking charges was sentenced to two years in prison.
