The Department of Justice announced that Luis Esparza Services, Inc. (LES) had agreed to pay $320,000 to resolve allegations that the company engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination during the I-9 process. In the case at hand, it appears that LES routinely required individuals attesting to be lawful permanent residents to present a “green card” during the I-9 process (even though other documents such as a driver’s license and unrestricted social security card would also be acceptable). LES apparently did not have any such procedure for U.S. citizens – thus forming the basis for the alleged discrimination. This is the highest civil penalty paid through a settlement since the anti-discrimination provision went into effect in 1986.

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