This IT Company Only Hired H1B Employees, Discriminated Against Americans | Court Finds Them Guilty

Amidst the countless reports of employment discriminations against foreign workers, mainly the ones holding a H-1B visa in the US, it turns out that legal action has been taken against a Texas based IT staffing and recruiting company for prioritizing foreign citizens for jobs, over domestic American workers.

A settlement agreement has been signed by the US Department of Justice against the US based ‘Ikon Systems’ on Tuesday, alleging them to discriminate against US workers by posting job advertisements which preferred temporary work visa applicants.

What is the Case About?

After a US citizen filed a complaint of discrimination against the Texas-based Ikon Systems with the Civil Rights Division, several investigations have taken place, now wrapping up with a settlement agreement signed by the US Department of Justice against the IT company.

Through its investigation, the Dept found out that from May 8, 2019, to September 21, 2019, Ikon posted at least eight facially discriminatory job advertisements targeting non-US citizens with immigration statuses associated with employment-based visas.

This means, the alleged company has been discriminating towards hiring foreign work visa holders for job roles, over US employees.

The investigation did reveal one of Ikon’s advertisements, which read ‘Looking for OPT, CPT, H4 EAD, and H-1B transfer.’

The Department of Justice has also informed that the company discriminated against considering a US citizen’s application for a job role, simply due to his citizenship.

US IT Co Violates the Immigration and Nationality Act

According to the Civil Rights Division, any advertisement(s) that discriminate against US workers (posting job offers solely for work visa holders), violate the Immigration and Nationality Act’s (INA) citizenship-status discrimination provision.

It also states that regardless of the employer size and industry, there cannot be any limit on employment opportunities only to temporary visa holders.

It quotes through this case, “If employers discriminate in advertising, recruiting, or hiring against US workers by illegally preferring temporary visa holders, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will act to protect them under the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

The Department also informed that the Ikon case is the 11th settlement by the Civil Rights Division under its 2017 Protecting US Workers Initiative.