issues

Immigrants' Rights & National Origin Discrimination

Discrimination and harassment based on perceived national origin, citizenship or immigration status is against the law. We’re here to help.

Immigrants and their families often face unique challenges. Those in power may unfairly and unlawfully exploit language barriers, cultural differences, and assume you don’t know your rights.

 

Federal and state civil rights laws protect people from discrimination based on birthplace, ancestry, ethnicity, language, or perceived national origin. These protections apply in many areas including employment, housing, financial services, education, and access to public services.

National origin discrimination is defined broadly. It can involve physical, cultural, or linguistic traits, as well as customs, dress, or accent. Even assumptions about where you or your family are “from” can trigger legal protections under national origin discrimination laws.

Your Rights Go Beyond the Workplace

Discrimination can take many forms. In the workplace, it may mean being denied promotions, excluded from meetings, or given less favorable assignments. Outside of work, it can include being refused housing, steered toward certain neighborhoods, or denied a loan because of your background.

Harassment is also prohibited. Verbal abuse, slurs, threats, or physical violence tied to your ethnicity, culture, or language are unlawful in many contexts. This includes harassment or mistreatment by private businesses or government agencies.

These protections extend to discrimination based on your relationships. If you are targeted because you married someone from another country, adopted a child from abroad, or live with someone who is undocumented, the law may still protect you.

Standing Up for Immigrant Communities

We have represented clients in many roles—workers, borrowers, students, and community members—who have faced discrimination because of their national origin, citizenship or immigration status. Whether you are undocumented, on a visa, or a U.S. citizen, you have rights under civil rights and immigration laws.

Our mission is to defend those rights and hold wrongdoers accountable. If you believe you have been treated unfairly because of your national origin or immigration status, contact our immigration and civil rights lawyers to learn how we can help.

Framing the Issue

  • Nearly 52 million immigrants live in the United States, comprising 15.4% of all U.S. residents. 
  • English is one of many languages spoken in the United States. The Census Bureau found that almost one in five people spoke a language other than English at home in 2019, a share that has nearly tripled since 1980. 
  • Many immigrants work in tough, low-paying jobs. Industries where wage theft is common—garment manufacturing, hotels, landscape maintenance, and restaurants—rely heavily on these workers. 
  • For undocumented workers, speaking up about harassment, assault, wage theft, or unsafe conditions can feel risky. Employers count on that fear. But the law is clear: you have rights regardless of your immigration status. 

Notable Matters

  • Obtained a $3.4 million hiring discrimination settlement for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients who alleged Procter & Gamble denied them employment because they weren’t U.S. citizens.
  • Represented DACA recipients and other noncitizens with work authorization who alleged they were denied job opportunities due to their immigration status.
  • Secured a nearly $25.5 million lending discrimination settlement for DACA recipients who alleged Wells Fargo denied them loans and credit cards because they were not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
  • Secured a payment exceeding $2.5 million for DACA recipients who alleged Discover Bank denied them student, personal, and home equity loans solely because of their immigration status, resulting in policy changes making DACA recipients eligible for loans on terms comparable to U.S. citizens.
  • Obtained a nearly half-million-dollar settlement for DACA recipients and conditional green card holders in a class action alleging SoFi denied them loans because of their immigration status.
  • Represented a devout Muslim immigrant who was terminated by his healthcare employer after his prayer rug was discovered.
  • Submitted an amicus brief on behalf of the Human Trafficking Legal Center and 10 other human and labor rights organizations in Vidal v. Advanced Care Staffing, a case challenging the use of sophisticated contracts and forced arbitration to traffic foreign nurses to the U.S. and evade accountability under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

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Did someone make uncomfortable jokes or comments about your national origin or immigration status, or that of someone close to you?

If you’ve been treated unfairly because of your background, we’re ready to stand up for your rights.

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