I am putting together a documentary photography project to tell the story of immigrant workers in Russia. I will be looking at the plight of the undocumented workers crossing the southern Russian border from the Central Asian states. Many of these immigrants used to be able to work legally in Russia during the Soviet era but are now left with dismal job prospects in economies at home that are in a shambles.

In addition to the legal hurdles many of these immigrants face there is also a spreading dislike of them in the general Russian society. There have been reports in the past year and half coming out of Moscow that bands of thugs have been attacking Central Asian immigrants.

This story requires me to travel with a writer to Russia and Central Asia. This piece will be produced on spec in hopes of selling it to a large media outlet. Because of this I have chosen a new approach to funding the story. I am asking for donations from individuals who share my desire that this story be told.

A senior immigration officer tries to determine if this man has a migrant card or not. All visitors to Russia must have an immigrant card that shows when they entered the country and when they will leave. This man did not have this card and was detained with the other immigrants.

Thanks,
Neal Waters

You can follow updates to the story on my blog.