The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with Micron Technology Inc. (Micron), a semiconductor memory and storage products manufacturer based in Boise, Idaho. The settlement resolves a case in which the Department found that Micron violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by discriminating against a U.S. citizen who was not hired for a position, instead employing a temporary visa worker.
“Companies cannot unlawfully discriminate against job candidates by preferring to hire individuals with different citizenship or immigration status,” said Deputy Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We will continue to hold companies accountable, both large and small, for violating this federal law concerning civil rights.”
The Department’s investigation began when a U.S. citizen reported that Micron unjustly denied him employment due to his citizenship status. The Department determined that Micron unlawfully favored a temporary visa worker for the position, without considering the qualifications of the U.S. citizen. According to the INA, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship, immigration status, or national origin at any stage of the hiring process, unless required or permitted by law.
Under the settlement, Micron will pay a civil penalty to the United States and offer the affected worker compensation totaling $85,000. Additionally, Micron will train its staff on the INA’s anti-discrimination provisions, change its policies and procedures, and be subject to monitoring by the Department for a two-year period.
Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-agreement-micron-technology-resolve-claim-immigration-related
