Rick Jackson wants to be Georgia's governor. He says he'll fight illegal immigration and put America First. But there's a problem: his company has been importing foreign workers to fill jobs that Americans could do.
Jackson Healthcare, owned by the Republican gubernatorial candidate, acquired Avant Healthcare Professionals in 2018. What does Avant do? It specializes in recruiting foreign nurses to work in U.S. hospitals through H-1B and EB-3 visa programs.
Here's where it gets interesting.
The Lawsuit That Tells the Real Story
Two foreign nurses filed a federal lawsuit against Avant in 2023, alleging labor trafficking and wage suppression. Latoya Lewis from Jamaica and Lucinda Byron from St. Thomas claimed they were paid less than American nurses and threatened with deportation if they complained.
The allegations are serious: "indentured servitude" where foreign workers were forced into contracts they didn't fully understand, paid $10 per hour during training, and kept in line with threats to immigration officials.
Translation: import cheap foreign labor, undercut American wages, and use the threat of deportation to keep workers compliant.
But wait, there's more.
How the Scheme Works
Avant charges hospitals for placing these foreign nurses. The longer the placements, the more money Avant makes. Contract breaches hurt their bottom line. So they have every incentive to keep foreign workers locked into below-market contracts.
The lawsuit revealed Avant recruited 5,219 foreign nurses since 2013. That's thousands of jobs that could have gone to American nurses, or at minimum, jobs that should have paid prevailing wages without the threat of deportation hanging overhead.
The settlement? Up to $3 million in damages and attorney fees. Avant agreed to stop pursuing "liquidated damages" from nurses who wanted out of their contracts.
Translation: they were caught.
The Primary Battle
Jackson is running against Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, and Attorney General Chris Carr in the May 19 Republican primary. This isn't exactly the immigration resume conservative voters are looking for.
Jones has already gone after Jackson on this issue, posting on social media that "Never Trumpers couldn't ask for a better friend than Rick Jackson" and highlighting Jackson's lack of political donations to Trump.
Fair point.
Jackson's Defense: It's Legal
Jackson's campaign responded that foreign nurses "come to America legally" and "save lives." They argue hospitals need nurses, especially in rural Georgia.
Here's the thing: nobody's arguing Avant broke immigration law. They're arguing it's bad policy that hurts American workers.
Legal doesn't mean right.
When Americans can't find nursing jobs that pay a living wage, and your company is importing foreign workers who get paid less and threatened with deportation if they complain, you're part of the problem.
The Bigger Picture
This story highlights the tension between business interests and America First policies. Jackson built a successful healthcare empire. That's admirable. But building it on cheap foreign labor while running on an immigration platform? That's harder to defend.
Conservative voters deserve better.
The H-1B and EB-3 visa programs were supposed to fill genuine labor shortages in specialized fields. Instead, they've become a way for companies to avoid paying market wages to American workers.
Jackson's situation is exactly why these programs need reform, not expansion.
What This Means for Georgia
Georgia Republicans have a choice in May. They can nominate someone whose business model relied on importing foreign workers, or they can pick someone who puts American workers first in policy AND practice.
The lawsuit against Avant shows what happens when foreign worker programs operate without proper oversight: wage suppression, labor violations, and American workers getting pushed aside.
Actions speak louder than campaign promises.
Questions That Need Answers
How many American nurses applied for positions at facilities using Avant recruits?
What was the wage difference between foreign and domestic nursing staff?
Will Jackson commit to ending his company's foreign recruitment practices if elected?
Does he believe the H-1B and EB-3 programs need reform?
Conservative voters deserve straight answers.
The Bottom Line
Rick Jackson built a successful business. But success built on cheap foreign labor while American workers struggle isn't the conservative model Georgia needs.
Republicans want leaders who put America First in their business practices, not just their campaign rhetoric. Jackson's company importing thousands of foreign workers while Americans face unemployment isn't the track record conservative primary voters are looking for.
The choice is clear in May.
Further Reading:
Daily Caller: "GOP Governor Hopeful Owns Company Importing Foreign Nurses Over Americans"
Florida Trend: Investigation into Avant Healthcare settlement
Federal lawsuit documents: Lewis v. Avant Healthcare Professionals