Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, APRIL 24, 2007
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRT
(202) 514-2007
TDD (202) 514-1888

Justice Department Announces Public Education Campaign Grants
to Fight Immigration-Related Employment Discrimination

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department announced today that it is making available $725,000 in funding for grant programs designed to promote public education efforts regarding immigration-related employment discrimination.

The Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), a section of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, announced the availability of funds for public education programs regarding employees’ rights and employers’ obligations under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The program is open to public service groups, faith-based organizations, associations, and others providing information services to employers and/or potential victims of immigration-related employment discrimination. Last year, grants ranging from $45,000 to $85,000 were awarded to 11 organizations serving communities throughout the country.

In some cases, the INA prohibits discrimination against work-authorized individuals on the basis of citizenship status or national origin in hiring, firing and recruiting or referring for a fee. In addition, the provision prohibits employers from requiring over-documentation in the employment eligibility verification process. The INA also prohibits retaliation against protected conduct under the INA.

The deadline for grant applications is Tuesday, May 29, 2007. The grant announcement is available on OSC’s Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc or http://www.grants.gov.

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