ATTORNEY GENERAL ASHCROFT SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WITH CITY OF SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

WASHINGTON, D.C. - - Attorney General John Ashcroft and Mayor Jorge Santini of San Juan, Puerto Rico today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of San Juan and the Justice Department's Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices.

Under the MOU, the City of San Juan and the Office of Special Counsel agree to cooperate to protect the rights of both immigrants and U.S. Citizens, and to better educate the immigrant community, the business community, and the general public about the rights and responsibilities of both employers and employees under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The mission of the Office of Special Counsel, a component of the Civil Rights Division, is to protect U.S. Citizens and legally-authorized workers from employment discrimination based on citizenship status, national origin, retaliation and the pattern or practice known as "document abuse".

"This memorandum of agreement will ensure fair and equal employment opportunities to citizens, residents and legal immigrants residing in San Juan," said Ashcroft. "This is an important step in our ongoing effort to forge partnerships with state and local governments to help educate both workers and employers."

"The Attorney General's participation in this event, and his signature on the MOU, are important symbols of the Department's commitment to fair and equal employment opportunity for all U.S. citizens and legal immigrants," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership with the City of San Juan in this first agreement of its kind with a territory of the United States," said Special Counsel Juan Carlos Benítez.

Individuals seeking more information or assistance provided by the Office of Special Counsel may call toll-free, 1-800-255-7688 or 202-616-5594 or write to: Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 205030 or Email:osc.crt@usdoj.gov. Additional information may be found on the Department's internet website: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/index.html.

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