The US Department of Justice reached a settlement with Latitude Inc., a staffing firm based in Hanover, Maryland.

Latitude allegedly refused to recruit or hire any non-US citizens for several positions at a client company from at least April 2022 through July 2023, according to the department. The client firm had requested the restriction without legal basis.

Permanent resident workers, noncitizen national workers and workers who have been granted asylum were harmed by the refusal to hire noncitizens, the department said.

“Companies cannot unlawfully exclude all non-US citizens with permission to work in the United States from job opportunities based on their citizenship status,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a press release.

Under the terms of the settlement, Latitude will train its personnel on Immigration and Nationality Act requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements. Latitude will also pay civil penalties.

SIA has reached out to Latitude for comment.