JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CRITICIZES CALIFORNIA FOR FAILING TO REPORT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST LEGAL IMMIGRANT WORKERS

Months after state officials in California promised the Justice Department that the state would begin properly reporting complaints of workplace discrimination by legal immigrants, the Justice Department has still not seen any improvement in the situation.  The lack of response by California officials has prompted the Justice Department special counsel for immigrant discrimination to write a letter to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing urging them to make discrimination against immigrants in employment a priority.

The special counsel, John Trasvina, wants the state to adhere to a 1989 agreement between the state and the federal government whereby the state promised to report complaints of employment discrimination by immigrants to the Justice Department.  According to the letter, during 1998 California officials received 114 complaints of discrimination on the basis of national origin, none of which were forwarded to the Justice Department. 

The Clinton administration blames the problem on the administration of former Governor Pete Wilson.  Aides to the former governor deny this.  The number of investigations into claims of workplace discrimination against legal immigrants has fallen significantly in recent years. However, there haw been no reduction in the number of complaints.

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