Clearinghouse coding complete
On April 27, 2023, the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant
and Employee Rights Section ("IER") accepted as complete a charge filed by the Charging Party against Compunnel Software Group Inc. ("Compunnel"). The charge alleged that Compunnel engaged in citizenship status discrimination in violation of of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1324b (the “Act”).
Several days later, on May 9, 2023, IER notified Compunnel that it had initiated an investigation to determine whether it engaged in a pattern or practice of recruiting or hiring discrimination based on citizenship in violation of the Act. Later, IER found reasonable cause to believe that Compunnel engaged in unlawful citizenship status discrimination in hiring and recruitment. Specifically, IER found that (a) Compunnel sent a recruiting email to the Charging Party, a U.S. citizen, stating a preference for “only” certain temporary work visa holders for the position, and (b) at least ten Compunnel recruiters included similar citizenship-based restrictions in more than 53 job advertisements or postings, thereby unlawfully excluding protected U.S. workers without legal justification, among other facts.
On April 7, 2026, IER announced that it had entered into a Settlement Agreement with Compunnel, effective April 6, 2026. The agreement resolved allegations of unlawful citizenship status discrimination in recruiting, hiring, and employment eligibility verification processes. Under the terms of the agreement, Compunnel agreed to pay $255,420 in civil penalties to the United States Treasury in eight equal installments of $31,927.50, with the first installment due within 10 business days of receiving wire transfer instructions from IER and subsequent installments due quarterly through January 1, 2028. Compunnel also agreed to pay the Charging Party $58,000 in lost wages and benefits, less required tax withholdings, within 30 calendar days of the Effective Date or receipt of a properly completed Form W-4 from the Charging Party. In addition to monetary relief, Compunnel was required to revise its employment policies to prohibit citizenship status and national origin discrimination, complete IER-specified anti-discrimination training for all relevant employees within 60 days of the Effective Date, and obtain written legal justification before implementing any client-requested citizenship status restrictions. IER retained the right to conduct compliance inquiries and inspect Forms I-9, and designated the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey as the preferred venue for enforcement. The agreement is set to remain in effect for two years from the Effective Date.
Summary Authors
Madilynn O'Hara (6/21/2021)
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Case Ongoing: No reason to think so
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Compunnel Software Group Inc., a private cybersecurity company
Plaintiff Type(s):
U.S. Dept of Justice plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Other Dockets:
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed
Relief Sought:
Warrant/Order allowing surveillance
Relief Granted:
Warrant/Order allowing surveillance
Source of Relief:
Form of Settlement:
Content of Injunction:
Comply with advertising/recruiting requirements
Follow recruitment, hiring, or promotion protocols
Issues
Discrimination Area:
Discrimination Basis:
Case Summary of DOJ Investigation of Compunnel Software Group Inc., Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48258/ (last updated 6/21/2021).