Department of Justice determines Woodburn School District discriminated against applicant

WOODBURN, Ore. – The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that it reached settlement agreement with the Woodburn School District regarding a complaint that the district violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Woodburn School District was accused of refusing to hire a work-authorized non-U.S. citizen as a teacher.

The Department of Justice determined that Woodburn School District discriminated against the man who was applying for a teaching position by refusing to hire him because of his citizenship status. The Department of Justice said the district’s hiring committee considered him to be the most qualified applicant.

The Department of Justice also concluded that the district pre-screened the applicant and asked for documentation to verify his citizenship status and work authorization, but they did not make these requests of other applicants.

The Immigration and Nationality Act generally prohibits employers from refusing to hire certain work-authorized, non-U.S. citizens because of their citizenship status. It also prohibits employers from pre-screening applicants by requesting specific documentation to prove their work authorization based on employees’ citizenship status or national origin.

Under the settlement, Woodburn School District will pay the rejected applicant$5,774.81 and will pay the maximum civil penalties applicable, worth $5,543, to the United States. The district will also be subject to monitoring, training, and reporting requirements for a three-year period.