UCSD Fined $4,712 for Discriminating Against Immigrant Workers

The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division announced today that UC San Diego has agreed to pay a $4,712 penalty for discriminating against immigrant workers.

According to the Justice Department’s press release, the Resource Management and Planning (RMP) division illegally required certain individuals with work authorizations to submit papers to re-establish their eligibility. This requirement was in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which removed certain racial and national restrictions on employment.

The violation was reported on May 19, 2017 by an unnamed party. The Justice Department notified UCSD of an investigation on May 30, and UCSD Chief Campus Counsel Daniel Park signed the settlement on May 4, 2018.

The settlement notes that it is not an admission of guilt on the part of UCSD and the UC Regents. UCSD must pay the agreed-to penalty within ten days, train its human resources staff on anti-discrimination policies, review its existing training materials, and report regularly to the Justice Department going forward.

“Employers must comply with anti-discrimination laws, not only when employees are first hired, but throughout their employment,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore in the press release. “We will work with the University to ensure that its employment eligibility re-verification procedures avoid unnecessary burdens on permanently work-authorized immigrants based on citizenship status.”

Rohan Grover is an Assistant News Editor of The Triton.