Marco’s Pizza Owner, Discrimination Against Immigrants, California 2024

Grimy Times has learned that Pizzerias, LLC, a pizza restaurant franchisee with 31 locations in Miami, Florida, has agreed to pay a $140,000 civil penalty for discriminating against work-authorized immigrants during the hiring process.

According to a federal investigation, Pizzerias routinely requested that lawful permanent residents produce a specific document – a Permanent Resident Card – to prove their work authorization, while not requesting a specific document from U.S. citizens. This practice is a clear violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which prohibits employers from subjecting employees to unnecessary documentary demands based on citizenship or national origin.

‘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.’

The antidiscrimination provision of the INA prohibits employers from subjecting employees to unnecessary documentary demands based on citizenship or national origin. The division’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) is responsible for enforcing this provision and preventing employment discrimination under immigration laws.

Under the settlement, Pizzerias must post notices informing workers about their rights under the INA’s antidiscrimination provision, train their human resources personnel, and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.

Applicants or employees who believe they were subjected to different documentary requirements based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin, or discrimination based on their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral, should contact IER’s worker hotline for assistance.

IER’s worker hotline can be reached at 1-800-255-7688 (1-800-237-2515, TTY for hearing impaired). The hotline is available to provide assistance and answer questions about employment discrimination under immigration laws.

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