The Department of Justice (DOJ) and its Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices is suing a California medical services firm, alleging a pattern of requiring job applicants to provide forms not required for Form I-9 work eligibility status.
The suit springs from a February 2010 incident in which the company rejected a job applicant's work authorization form–a document on the I-9 chart's A list, meaning no other proof is required–and told her she needed to present a green card, showing permanent resident status. The company did so, evidently, because the work authorization document had an expiration date on it. The DOJ intends to prove this represented a pattern of abuse by the company.
“Employers are not allowed to impose more burdensome employment eligibility verification procedures on certain workers based on their citizenship status,” said Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general in charge of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, including those protecting employees from discriminatory documentary requirements.”
The United States Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) has been conducting I-9 audits throughout the nation. Keep the inspectors away from your door by complying fully with the law. To help you do this, Personnel Concepts offers a comprehensive I-9 Compliance Kit. Get yours today.