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Texas firm, Justice Department settle immigration probe

September 26, 2013

Infinity Group  and its related entities reached an agreement to settle a U.S. Department of Justice investigation alleging the companies violated the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act by demanding more or different documents than U.S. citizens are required to present.

Clute, Texas-based Infinity Group provides project-based temporary skilled labor to client companies and employs more than 1,000 temporary employees in the United States.

The investigation determined that Infinity Group entities, which utilized the E-Verify system, required non-citizens to present specific U.S. Department of Homeland Security-issued documents to establish their identity and employment authorization while not making similar requests of U.S. citizens, according to the Department of Justice.

After receiving notice of the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Employment Practices’ investigation, Infinity Group immediately changed its employment policies and practices to conform to the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Infinity Group will train its human resources personnel on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s anti-discrimination provision; pay $53,800 in civil penalties; create a $35,000 back pay fund to compensate any individuals who suffered lost wages as a result of its practices; and be subject to monitoring by the department and reporting requirements for a period of two years.

The company has no comment on the agreement at this time, said Jimmy Lapier, Infinity Group’s employee/labor relations manager.

Earlier this month, Kelly Services Inc. (NASD: KELYA) settled a U.S. Department of Justice investigation over immigration paperwork for approximately $3,000. Kelly Services does not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement, and maintains the facts of the case remain in dispute.