The Justice Department announced today that it has secured a settlement agreement with Youth UpRising, a community organization in Oakland, California, that provides youth services. The agreement resolves the department’s determination that Youth UpRising violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a non-U.S. citizen employee based on citizenship status and retaliating against a second employee who tried to stop the discrimination.

“Employers cannot discriminate against workers when verifying their permission to work based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Workers also should not face negative consequences when they raise concerns about such discrimination, and the Justice Department will steadfastly protect those who assert rights on behalf of themselves or others under this law.”

The department’s investigation, which was initiated based on two complaints, revealed that Youth UpRising unlawfully discriminated against a newly hired non-U.S. citizen by rejecting her valid documentation showing her permission to work, and requiring other documentation because of her citizenship. The employee was fired when she could not comply with the unnecessary document demand. The department also concluded that Youth UpRising fired a different employee in retaliation for investigating the incident and trying to stop the...

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