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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Miami pizza chain settles federal immigrant-hiring complaint

Pizza

MIAMI (Legal Newsline) — Pizzerias LLC, a pizza restaurant franchisee with 31 locations in Miami, has agreed to settle allegations related to the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and pay a $140,000 civil penalty, the U.S. Justice Department announced.

According to the Justice Department's May 23 statement, the pizza chain discriminated against work-authorized immigrants when checking their work authorization documents. Pizzerias purportedly mandated that lawful permanent residents supply a specific document – a permanent resident card – when applying for a job, yet did not ask for a specific document from U.S. citizens applying for a job. Alleged conduct of this nature violates INA because the act bans employers from subjecting employees to unnecessary documentary demands based on citizenship or national origin.

 

In addition to the civil penalty, Pizzerias must post notices to their employees about employee rights protected by INA. The company must also train human resources personnel about INA and be subject to department monitoring, the Justice Department said.

 

“The Justice Department is committed to ensuring the rights of lawful U.S. workers to be free from discriminatory barriers based on their citizenship, immigration status or national origin,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Tom Wheeler of the Civil Rights Division. “Pizzerias’ responsiveness throughout the course of the investigation assisted in a speedy resolution of this matter.”

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