Three Memphis-area staffing agencies — Prestigious Placement, PFSWeb Inc. and its subsidiary, Priority Fulfillment Services Inc. — reached a settlement agreement to resolve two complaints alleging discrimination under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the US Justice Department announced.

A Justice Department investigation found the companies refused to hire two qualified, Puerto Rican-born individuals because the companies believed they were born in a foreign country. The companies rejected the workers’ valid Puerto Rican birth certificates and demanded the workers present naturalization certificates, even though Puerto Ricans are US citizens by birth. 

Under the settlement agreement, the companies will compensate the charging parties for lost wages; pay civil penalties to the United States; undergo training on the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act; revise their employment policies and training materials; and be subject to monitoring of their employment eligibility verification practices for two years.

The Commercial Appeal Memphis reported Prestigious Placement, which denied engaging in unfair practices, agreed to pay a $250 civil penalty and $255 to each applicant. PFSWeb and Priority agreed to pay a $1,200 civil penalty and $200 to each applicant. The staffing agencies agreed to undergo anti-discrimination training.

“Puerto Ricans are native-born US citizens who have the same right to work as any other US citizen,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta of the Civil Rights Division. “They should not have to face these types of discriminatory barriers, and the Justice Department is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities.”