Obama Admin. Warns Employers Against Pressing Certain Immigrants For Documentation

REUTERS/MARK MAKELA
REUTERS/MARK MAKELA

The Justice Department is warning employers against requesting additional work-authorization documentation from Salvadorans with Temporary Protected Status.

This month the Department of Homeland Security automatically extended the validity of work authorization documents, beyond their March 9, 2015 expiration date, for immigrants from El Salvador Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

According to the Justice Department, despite the expired work papers, employers could violate anti-discrimination laws if they request more documents from those immigrant workers.

Tuesday the Justice Department announced the release of a video warning employers against requesting more paperwork, created by the  Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices.

The low budget video features two human resource managers debating whether or not they need to obtain new documents from employees whose employment authorizations expire the next day.

“Don’t we always have to have unexpired documents?” one asks.

“I think this is an exception to that rule,” the other responds.

The video continues to explain that the government has expected the validity of employment authorization cards for TPS Salvadorans for another six months.

“We hope this video will prevent discrimination against work-authorized immigrants and help employers across the country understand employment eligibility verification rules,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division said in a statement Tuesday.  “Federal law prohibits discrimination in the employment eligibility verification process, and the Justice Department is committed to enforcing the law.”

Watch:

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