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I Think I Faced Discrimination at Work Because of my National Origin. What Can I Do?
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If you were passed over for a promotion, terminated or laid off, not hired in favor of another candidate, or suffered harassment in your workplace, you could be a victim of national origin discrimination. This is the unfair treatment of an individual based on his or her actual or perceived place of birth.
As a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States, you have the right to seek and maintain fulfilling work. There are a few positions that are only available to citizens, such as federal government positions. These rights are protected by the Immigration Reform and Control Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Both are enforced by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency that enforces our nation’s employment laws.
It is Illegal to Discriminate Based on Citizenship or National Origin
Recognizing citizenship and national origin discrimination is not always easy. A few examples of these types of discrimination include:
- Asking interviewees where they were born;
- Paying US citizens and permanent residents different rates for the same work;
- Refusing to promote non-citizens beyond a certain level in the company;
- Targeting an individual or group with off-color remarks, invasive questions, and offensive imagery; and
- Refusing to hire non-citizens.
Document Everything
Every time you feel you have experienced discrimination based on your citizenship status or national origin, document it. Print out emails and meeting notes that contain discriminatory content, note the date, time, and context of conversations where harassment or other forms of discrimination occur, and when it comes to being passed over for promotion or paid an unfair rate, keep all related documents to support your claim.
Report your Experienced to Human Resources
Before you file a discrimination claim with the EEOC, try to resolve your issue internally. Report your experiences to your company’s Human Resources department, which could result in an appropriate resolution for your case. But do not let your guard down or get rid of your supporting documents – you might still need to bring in outside aid.
Consider Filing a Discrimination Claim with the EEOC
If your report to Human Resources takes you nowhere, work with an employment lawyer to file a claim with the EEOC. The EEOC will investigate your claim by examining your evidence and your workplace, and if it finds discrimination occurred, it may facilitate a settlement between you and the company. If not, you might have to file a discrimination lawsuit to have the court rule on your case.
Work with an Experienced Chicago Immigration Lawyer
Nobody has to tell you that becoming an American citizen or permanent resident and establishing yourself in a career here is a long, difficult process. When you suffer from discrimination in your workplace following all this effort, the consequences can feel especially unfair. Speak with an experienced immigration lawyer at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to determine the best course of action for exercising your rights to pursue a career in the United States. Contact our firm today to set up your initial consultation in our office.
Lo que dicen nuestras clientas
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I had a wonderful experience working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC. From start to finish, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to guiding me through every step of the process. They made what could have been a stressful situation feel smooth and manageable, always answering questions quickly and keeping me updated. I especially want to thank Khabit for his outstanding support—he was patient, detail-oriented, and went above…
Many thanks to attorney Kevin A Raica and his assistant Rafael Rodriguez for all their help. My immigration case went very smoothly and quickly.
We worked with Kevin Raica from Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, and I can confidently say he went above and beyond for us. Our process was very long and at times overwhelming, but Kevin guided us every step of the way with professionalism, patience, and dedication. He was always available to answer our questions, explained everything clearly, and made sure we understood our options at each stage. What stood out…
A family friend referred me to work with Maya Flores at Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC to help me with my U.S. naturalization. Despite the current immigration tension, Maya helped make the process smooth and her familiarity with procedure helped ease my anxiety. She submitted the citizenship application on my behalf and let me know what to expect. I decided to retain her service for the civics interview as well,…
I really want to thank Justin and Kamila; they are the best. I waited almost 20 years and no one could help me get my green card and in 4 months they helped me get my permit, and I got my green card in less then 4 months. They are the best. I will always be grateful for what they did for me, thank you Justin and Kamila!!!!
I am writing this review to express my deepest gratitude for the hard work on our case by our Immigration Attorney, Lauren McClure and her Paralegal, Kamila Lada. My Green Card was approved! I know this wouldn't have been possible without their expertise and dedication. They both were extremely helpful, responsive, and guided us through every step of the way. Lauren took the time to train us for our interview…
I am incredibly grateful to Mr. Burton for his outstanding legal assistance in my immigration case, from my first consultation he heard me patiently demonstrating exceptional professionalism, expertise, and a genuine commitment to my case. Immigration process can be overwhelming and stressful, but he and his team provided clear guidance every step of the way, always answering my questions promptly and reassuring me with their deep expertise. Thanks to their…
I had an outstanding experience working with Brittni Rivera. From our very first consultation, she demonstrated deep expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case. Navigating immigration processes can be incredibly stressful, but Brittni made the entire journey much more manageable and transparent. She were always responsive to my questions, provided clear guidance at every step, and never made me feel like just another case. Thanks to her hard work…
Highly recommend this firm. I had the pleasure of working with Lauren McClure and she is absolutely the best. She was very helpful and walked me through every step of the process, she is patient and she got the job done. I am very grateful with her and her team for helping me with the process of my case. Thank you so much.
I have worked with Kevin Raica for my VAWA application. Let me tell you he has been AMAZING. Unlike other lawyers Kevin has always went above and beyond for me. Kevin is not in it for the money he is in it to HELP people and make a difference. He has walked me through the entire process and always answers any questions I have no matter what. This law firm…
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