How Immigration Status Is Protected When Filing a Paraquat Claim as an Undocumented Farmworker

For decades, farmworkers have been on the front lines, handling potent chemicals like Paraquat to help feed the nation. Many of these hardworking individuals are undocumented immigrants who face unique challenges and fears. Now, with a growing link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s Disease, a new fear has emerged: If I file a lawsuit for my injuries, will I be deported?

This is a valid and understandable concern. The thought of bringing yourself to the attention of the legal system can be terrifying when your immigration status is uncertain. However, it is critical to understand a fundamental principle of the American justice system: your right to seek justice for your injuries is not determined by your immigration status.

At Walch Law, we are dedicated to protecting the rights of all individuals who have been harmed by corporate negligence. We believe that no one should suffer in silence because they are afraid. This guide explains the legal protections available to you and how your immigration status is kept safe throughout the process of filing a Paraquat claim.

Your Right to Justice Has No Borders

The U.S. Constitution and California law guarantee that everyone, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, has access to the courts to hold wrongdoers accountable. When a company like Syngenta or Chevron allegedly makes a product that causes a devastating illness like Parkinson’s, they are liable to every single person they harmed.

Think of it this way: if a drunk driver hits two cars, injuring both drivers, the at-fault driver is responsible for both victims’ injuries. It makes no difference if one of those victims is a U.S. citizen and the other is an undocumented immigrant. The harm is the same, and the right to compensation is the same.

In a Paraquat lawsuit, your claim is based on two key things:

Your exposure to Paraquat.
Your diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease or another related injury.

Your country of origin, visa status, or how you entered the country are completely irrelevant to proving that the manufacturer’s product harmed you.

Legal Protections That Keep You Safe

The legal system has specific rules and protections in place to prevent a defendant from using your immigration status as a weapon against you. The manufacturers of Paraquat cannot threaten to call immigration authorities to scare you out of pursuing your valid claim.

Inadmissibility of Immigration Status

In California, courts have made it clear that a person’s immigration status is generally not admissible in a personal injury lawsuit. A judge will not allow the defendant’s lawyers to bring up your status in front of a jury to prejudice them against you. Why? Because it has no bearing on whether Paraquat caused your Parkinson’s Disease. It is considered prejudicial and irrelevant to the facts of the case.

Protective Orders

Your attorney can seek a “protective order” from the court at the beginning of your case. This is a legally binding court order that explicitly prohibits the defendant’s lawyers from asking you questions about your immigration status during depositions or at trial. This order can prevent them from inquiring about:

How you entered the United States
Whether you have a visa or green card
Your country of birth

This powerful tool shields you from intrusive and intimidating questions designed to bully you into dropping your case.

Protections Against Retaliation

It is illegal for an employer or any other party to retaliate against you for filing a lawsuit or exercising your legal rights. If a farm owner were to threaten you with deportation for pursuing a Paraquat claim, that would be a separate and serious violation of the law. Your legal team can take action to protect you from any such threats.

How Walch Law Protects Undocumented Clients

Choosing the best Paraquat law firm is the most important step you can take. You need a team that not only understands product liability law but is also sensitive to the unique concerns of undocumented clients. At Walch Law, protecting you is our top priority.

Absolute Confidentiality

Everything you discuss with your lawyer is protected by attorney-client privilege. This is one of the oldest and strongest protections in the legal system. It means that we cannot, under any circumstances, reveal your personal information—including your immigration status—to anyone, including government agencies, without your explicit permission. Your secrets are safe with us.

We Control the Narrative

From the very first day, we make it clear to the defendants that your immigration status is off-limits. We file for protective orders immediately and will aggressively object to any attempt by the other side to bring it up. We control the flow of information so that the case remains focused on what truly matters: your health, your exposure, and the defendant’s responsibility.

Focusing on Your Damages

Our job is to prove the full extent of your losses. This includes:

Medical Expenses: All past and future costs for treatment, medication, and care for your Parkinson’s Disease.
Lost Wages: Compensation for the income you have lost and will lose because you are no longer able to work in the fields or at any other job. In California, you are entitled to recover lost wages even if you are undocumented.
Pain and Suffering: Compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life you have experienced because of this terrible disease.

We fight to ensure you are compensated for these losses just like any other victim.

Do Not Let Fear Deny You Justice

The manufacturers of Paraquat made billions of dollars selling a chemical that is now linked to an incurable neurological disease. They sold this product to farms all over California, where undocumented workers bore the brunt of the exposure.

You have suffered enough. You have worked in difficult conditions, and now you are battling a life-altering illness. You should not have to carry the financial burden of this disease alone, and you should not let fear of deportation stop you from seeking the justice you and your family deserve. The law is on your side, and so are we.

Contact Walch Law for a Free, Confidential Consultation

We understand that making the first call is the hardest part. At Walch Law, our consultations are always free, and they are always 100% confidential. We can speak with you in a safe and secure environment, with interpreters available if needed.

Let us explain your rights, answer your questions, and show you how we can protect you while fighting for the maximum compensation you are entitled to. You have nothing to lose by learning more. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay absolutely nothing unless we win your case.

Contact Walch Law today. Take the first step toward holding the powerful accountable and securing your family’s future.