Justice Department Settles Immigration-Related Discrimination Claim Against The Data Entry Company Inc.

The Justice Department announced today that it reached a settlement with The Data Entry Company Inc., a government subcontractor headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland.  The settlement resolves a charge filed with the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), claiming that the company engaged in hiring discrimination in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).   

The department’s investigation found that on two occasions The Data Entry Company Inc., removed a U.S. citizen from its pool of applicants because she is a dual citizen, in violation of the INA.  The INA’s anti-discrimination provision prohibits employers from engaging in hiring discrimination on the basis of citizenship.

“The Justice Department is committed to identifying and tearing down illegal barriers that prevent authorized workers from working,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division.  “The department commends The Data Entry Company Inc., for working to rectify this situation in a cooperative manner.”

Under the settlement agreement, The Data Entry Company Inc. will pay $7,007.75 in back pay to the charging party and will also pay a civil penalty to the United States.  The company also will undergo training on the anti-discrimination provision of the INA. 

OSC is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of the INA.  Among other things, the statute prohibits citizenship status and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing or recruitment or referral for a fee; unfair documentary practices; retaliation; and intimidation.  Trial Attorney Silvia Dominguez-Reese investigated this charge. 

For more information about protections against employment discrimination under immigration laws, call OSC’s worker hotline at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); call OSC’s employer hotline at 1-800-255-8155 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired); sign up for a free webinar at www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/webinars.php, email osccrt@usdoj.gov; or visit OSC’s website at www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc.