Your immigration or citizenship status should never determine your job opportunities, pay, or workplace treatment. Yet, many employers in New York City unlawfully deny jobs, promotions, and benefits to workers based on their immigration status, residency, or nationality. Some even threaten deportation or require excessive work authorization documents to create barriers for employees.
At Lipsky Lowe LLP, we fight for workers facing immigration and citizenship discrimination. Whether your employer has denied you fair treatment, retaliated against you, or violated your rights, we explore all legal options to hold them accountable. If your immigration status has been used against you at work, our employment discrimination attorneys can help. Contact us today for a consultation.
What Is Immigration and Citizenship Discrimination?
Employers cannot make hiring, firing, promotion, or pay decisions based on a worker’s citizenship or immigration status. Immigration and citizenship discrimination takes many forms, including:
- Refusing to hire qualified applicants because they are not U.S. citizens, even when legally authorized to work
- Unlawful termination after learning an employee’s immigration status
- Requiring excessive documentation beyond what federal law mandates for employment eligibility
- Denying benefits, promotions, or training to non-citizens
- Paying immigrant workers less than their citizen counterparts for the same job
- Threatening to report employees to immigration authorities as retaliation for asserting workplace rights
- Creating a hostile work environment by allowing harassment based on nationality or immigration status
If your employer takes part in any of these actions practices, you have a right to take legal action. That’s where our team comes in. We have comprehensive knowledge of the applicable anti-discrimination laws and will work to protect your rights.
Legal Protections for Immigrant Workers
Federal, state, and city laws protect immigrants from discrimination in the workplace:
Federal Protections
Workers are protected under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Section 1324b, which prohibits hiring and firing discrimination based on citizenship or immigration status for employers with four or more employees. The Civil Rights Act (Title VII) also bans national origin discrimination, which often overlaps with immigration status discrimination.
New York State Protections
The New York State Human Rights Law (NYSHRL) provides additional protections. It bans citizenship or immigration status discrimination in all workplaces, regardless of size. Employers cannot retaliate against workers who assert their rights.
New York City Protections
Under the New York City Human Rights Law (NYCHRL), employers cannot discriminate based on immigration or citizenship status. NYC law provides some of the strongest protections in the country, ensuring workers are not unfairly targeted because of their immigration status.
How Immigrant Workers Can Protect Their Rights
Immigrant workers—regardless of their status—have legal rights in the workplace. Taking the following steps can help protect you against discrimination, wage theft, or wrongful termination.
- Know your rights—employers cannot deny you a job or fire you based on immigration or citizenship status.
- Provide only the required documentation for work authorization—do not submit more than legally necessary.
- Keep records of any workplace mistreatment, including emails, pay stubs, and written communication.s
- Do not accept threats—employers cannot use your immigration status as a weapon to prevent you from asserting your rights.
- Seek legal guidance if you face discrimination, retaliation, or unfair treatment.
How Lipsky Lowe LLP Can Help
We have extensive experience representing employees who face discrimination based on their immigration or citizenship status. If your employer has denied you a job, fired you, or treated you unfairly because of your legal status, we can help you explore your options. Our team works to hold employers accountable, whether through negotiation, settlement, or litigation, when necessary. No one should have to tolerate discrimination, and we are committed to protecting your rights.
When you work with us, we take the time to understand your situation and explain your legal options. We can help you recover lost wages, challenge unfair employment policies, and seek justice for workplace mistreatment. If your employer has threatened you or retaliated against you for asserting your rights, we will fight to protect you.
Your Immigration Status Shouldn’t Affect Your Career—Contact Lipsky Lowe LLP Today
No worker should be denied opportunities or mistreated based on immigration or citizenship status. If your employer has violated your rights, Lipsky Lowe LLP is here to help protect your career and future. Talk to our experienced employment discrimination attorneys today!