American companies are being warned to stop ignoring domestic American workers in favour of H-1B visa holders. This ultimatum could bring federal penalties as the Trump administration expands its new enforcement drive known as Project Firewall.The initiative was a nudge by US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to clamp down on hiring practices that discriminate against Americans.
Project Firewall
The Department of Labor said the EEOC has released new rules to remind employers that favouring foreign workers and H-1B holders may violate federal law. The move follows the launch of Project Firewall, which is aimed at protecting the rights and wages of highly skilled American workers and ensuring they are prioritised for jobs.“I applaud the EEOC for standing with the Department of Labor’s mandate under Project Firewall to ensure American workers have a fair chance to compete and succeed,” said Labour Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we will continue working with our federal partners to put an end to bad practices and safeguard opportunities for American workers.”The EEOC’s chair, Andrea Lucas, said the scale of unlawful hiring bias against American citizens required a strong federal response. “With the scale of unlawful anti-American discrimination we’re seeing, robust investigation and enforcement within the EEOC and with our federal partners is essential to protecting America’s workforce,” she said.
‘Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against The Law’
The EEOC published a new one-page document titled “Discrimination Against American Workers Is Against The Law” and updated its national origin discrimination information hub. These resources explain how discrimination can occur in forms such as job ads, hiring, harassment or retaliation. They rest on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, existing policy guidance and Supreme Court rulings.The EEOC’s warned that many employers maintain policies that illegally prefer migrants, illegal aliens or non-immigrant guest workers over Americans. “Nothing justifies illegal national origin discrimination whether rooted in cost of labour, customer preferences, or stereotypes,” she said.The EEOC reminded workers that they can file discrimination complaints through its website and noted that it has the authority to investigate and take action against private employers. For state and local government agencies, the EEOC shares responsibility with the Department of Justice (DOJ).