Obama administration fines Denver Sheriff’s Dept. $10,000 for not hiring non-citizens

The Department of Justice reached an agreement to settle a claim alleging that the Denver Sheriff's Department discriminated against immigrants who were authorized to work, in contravention of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) . The Denver Sheriff's Department is the largest sheriff's department in the State of Colorado.

The investigation conducted by the Department of Justice found that from approximately January 1, 2015 to approximately March 23, 2016, the Denver Sheriff's Department discriminated against citizenship status by requiring applicants to Deputy sheriff were US citizens. And by posting job advertisements reflecting US citizenship requirements, in contravention of the INA. The anti-discrimination provision of the INA prohibits employers from restricting their jobs to US citizens. Unless it is a requirement established by law, regulation, executive decree or government contract. The Denver Sheriff's Department was not subject to any of the exceptions under the INA.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Denver Sheriff's Department will pay $ 10,000 in civil penalties; Will identify job applicants who may have been disqualified for employment as an adjunct sheriff because of the citizenship requirement and will consider the qualifications of these applicants regardless of citizenship; Train its human resources staff on the anti-discrimination provision of the INA; And will study and review its policies and procedures to comply with the requirements of the antidiscrimination provision of the INA.


"We thank the Denver Sheriff's Department for their collaboration and commitment to lifting unnecessary and unlawful barriers to employment," said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, who is in charge of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "Removing this unlawful requirement of citizenship will help ensure that the Denver Sheriff's Department hires the most suitable and capable people to protect and serve. The entire community will benefit from these reforms. "

The Office of the Special Adviser for Unfair Employment Practices Related to Immigration (OSC) is responsible for enforcing the anti-discrimination provision of INA. Among other things, the law prohibits discrimination on grounds of citizenship, immigration status and national origin in hiring, firing or recruitment or in recommending employment by commission; Unfair documentary practices in verifying eligibility to work; Reprisals and intimidation.