The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Watercrest Community Management LLC concerning allegations of immigration-related discrimination at its Myrtle Beach, South Carolina location. The department found that Watercrest violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by refusing to accept a valid work authorization document from a non-U.S. citizen and demanding additional documentation due to her citizenship status.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stated, “Under federal law, employers cannot discriminate based on citizenship status when verifying an individual’s ability to work.” She emphasized the division's commitment to eliminating unnecessary barriers to employment in the United States.
The investigation was initiated following a worker's complaint. The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) discovered that Watercrest rejected valid documentation provided by a non-U.S. citizen and requested further documents, allegedly required by their Form I-9 software. This practice contravenes INA regulations which prohibit rejecting valid documentation or requesting excessive paperwork based on citizenship or immigration status.
Kristen Clarke, Assistant Attorney General
| website U.S. Department of Justice
As part of the settlement, Watercrest will adopt new practices if they face issues with their electronic Form I-9 software, opting for physical completion instead of rejecting valid work documents. Additionally, Watercrest will pay a civil penalty, train staff on INA requirements, update its employment policies, and undergo monitoring by the Justice Department.
IER enforces INA’s anti-discrimination provisions which include protections against discrimination based on citizenship status and national origin during hiring processes or employment eligibility verification.
For more information on preventing workplace discrimination related to employment eligibility verification or about IER's resources and assistance programs, individuals can visit IER’s website or contact their hotlines for workers and employers.