Human Rights M.A. Helps Jazmin Garcia ’25 Fight Human Trafficking
Degree: John Jay College, Master’s Degree in Human Rights
Current Job: Compliance & Education Supervisor in the Labor Trafficking Response Unit at the New York State Department of Labor
Mentor: Charlotte Walker-Said, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Africana Studies
Hometown: Schenectady, NY
What was life like before John Jay?
I grew up in a very tough home. My mom was with my father until I was about 10 years old, but the situation was difficult for me and my brothers because there was domestic violence in their relationship. My mother was always loving and kind and it was hard to see him batter her. I was that five-year-old kid hiding knives and forks because I was afraid that my father would get drunk—he was an alcoholic—get out of control and hurt my mom. My brothers and I would always have a broom handy thinking we might have to defend her.
As a family, my five siblings and I were also very protective of our mom because she didn’t speak much English—we’re from Puerto Rico. I had to be her interpreter and advocate with teachers or anyone we met. I was forced to grow up early and lacked a lot of confidence because of problems at home. I think these experiences also made me very aware and concerned about human rights.
Why John Jay?
When I was getting my criminal justice associate degree from Schenectady County Community College, a professor of mine always spoke highly of John Jay. Even though I ended up using a convenient pipeline program from Schenectady County Community College to SUNY Delhi for my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, John Jay was always in the back of my mind as a top school in criminal justice.
Why did you decide to get a master’s degree in human rights?
One of the main reasons I decided to get my master’s degree happened after I met my husband and learned about his story. Henry is from Guatemala. He was taken by some people, locked in a house and forced to cook, clean, and work. When Henry told me this, I remember telling him, “That sounds like you were a victim of human trafficking.”
I didn’t know anything about labor laws then, but I knew when a person was being taken advantage of and that labor exploitation often happened to immigrants. As someone who regularly witnessed domestic violence in my home, I had a deep level of empathy for other vulnerable people. There was something in me that made me want to help people like Henry because they didn’t have a voice. I wanted to help them understand that they were not alone and that they had rights and choices. That’s when I started getting involved in helping immigrant workers. Then, when the opportunity opened up for me to get a job at The Legal Project as a program coordinator for human trafficking victims, I jumped at the chance. Even though it was a big pay cut from my previous position in the health insurance sector, I saw it as an opening to get my foot in the door into a field that I was passionate about. That led to me getting my current job with the New York State Department of Labor. Working professionally in a labor trafficking response unit made me want to expand my understanding of human rights and earn my master’s degree on the subject.
Were there any classes that you found particularly helpful in your work?
There was a class that covered how to conduct an undercover operation which I found really useful in the work I do. In my current job, when I get called in, I have to go into the field and investigate employers to assess if there are indicators of trafficking. I have to ask wage questions and look for labor violations while seeing if there’s labor trafficking. The class helped me understand how I could be a little bit more polished when I obtain the information. It showed me ways that I could plan ahead and work jointly with other teams and departments. The course showed me how important it was to plan out every detail to execute an undercover operation properly to get the best information possible as a team.
How have your John Jay mentors put you on the path to success?
It’s hard getting your master’s degree while working a full-time job and being a mother of two. At times, I couldn’t cook dinner for my kids—something I love to do—because I had to study. While I did my homework, Henry would pick up the slack with taking care of the kids. Luckily, it wasn’t just my family supporting me, I also had Professor Walker-Said in my corner. At one point, all I needed was two classes to finish my degree, so I could graduate May 2025. Unfortunately, those exact classes were not being offered again until September. Professor Walker-Said stepped in and advocated for me to take another human rights course and a criminal justice course as an alternative. It meant a lot more work, but she told everyone, “Don’t worry, I’m sure Jazmin can handle it.” Her confidence in me was the encouragement I needed to push through and graduate in May.
What are you most proud of accomplishing in your work?
Helping victims get the justice they deserve. I remember this one case that I started when I was working at The Legal Project and finally closed while I was working at the New York State Department of Labor. The case involved a woman from the Dominican Republic who was a clear victim of human trafficking. She was taken advantage of by someone she knew and forced to work at a restaurant and clean their house without pay. She was even assaulted at some point. At The Legal Project, my team went back and forth with the embassy in the Dominican Republic trying to reunite her with her children. It was so much work. Then later, at the Department of Labor, I helped this same woman when she was applying for her green card. It was really rewarding giving her the information she needed to close and complete her case. Now, sometimes I see her out with her boys and it’s really fulfilling knowing that the work I do does have a positive impact on people’s lives.
