Tech giant Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a US Department of Justice investigation into allegations that the company discriminated against American citizens and green card holders in favor of immigrant workers for certain jobs.
The DOJ alleges that Apple failed to properly advertise and recruit US citizens and green card holders for jobs that were eligible for a federal program that allows employers to sponsor immigrant workers for green cards. This is in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship.
Apple has denied any wrongdoing, but has agreed to settle the case to avoid the cost and distraction of litigation. The company says that it “unintentionally not been following the DOJ standard” and has implemented a “robust remediation plan” to ensure compliance with the law in the future.
The settlement includes $6.75 million in civil penalties and $18.25 million to be paid to an unspecified number of affected workers. The DOJ says that the settlement is the largest ever for the agency involving claims of discrimination based on citizenship.
The case raises important questions about the role of immigrant workers in the US economy and the responsibility of employers to comply with anti-discrimination laws. It is also a reminder that even large and successful companies like Apple are not immune to government oversight.
