Employment Rights

Other Immigration Problems

Know Your Rights as an Immirgant Worker 

Community Education Resources: Workers' Rights

Learn about your rights rights as a worker in California. Below are educational resources on issues including unpaid wages, overtime, unemployment insurance benefits, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination/harassment, health and safety, and more.

Document Abuse:Things You Should Know About Proving Your Work Status to Your Employer

The page provides information on how to identify and handle "document abuse" at work, specifically regarding proof of work status. It explains what documents are necessary for employment, how employers may misuse or over-request documentation, and workers' rights to avoid such exploitation. It also offers guidance on how to properly prove your work status without being subjected to unfair treatment.

Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers

With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.

Information for Undocumented Workers

It is important for undocumented workers to be informed about the protections they have from discrimination, unfair wages, harassment, and disclosure of citizenship status. In addition to the rights against their employers, union representation, and worker’s compensation benefits. This page provides more detail about the rights and remedies for undocumented workers.

Community Education Resources: Workers' Rights

Learn about your rights rights as a worker in California. Below are educational resources on issues including unpaid wages, overtime, unemployment insurance benefits, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination/harassment, health and safety, and more.

Deferred Action for Labor Enforement

The page explains what immigrants, especially DACA recipients, need to know about deferred action programs after a U.S. election. It shares updates on how immigration policies could change and what people should do to stay protected. The goal is to help individuals navigate any legal changes and understand their options.

Deferred Action for Noncitizen/Undocumented Workers in Labor Disputes

As of the present time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a process to allow certain immigrant workers to seek temporary legal status and work authorization in the United States. This temporary status, called “Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement” (DALE), is meant to encourage workers to report employers’ unlawful practices without fear of immigration consequences, including deportation.

Document Abuse (Identification Documents at Work): Things You Should Know About Proving Your Work Status to Your Employer

Document abuse occurs when an employer does not permit a worker to use any combination of documents that are legally acceptable but, instead, specifies which documents s/he must use, or requires more documents than are legally required by the Form I-9. Therefore, if an employer refuses to accept legally acceptable documents that appear genuine on their face from a work-authorized immigrant worker, the employer has committed document abuse.

Employers: What to do if ICE comes to your Workplace

This guide, developed in collaboration with the National Employment Law Project (NELP), provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace.

Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers

With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.

Find an Immigration Lawyer

Protect yourself and your family. Get immigration advice from a licensed professional.

I-9 Audits

An immigration I-9 audit is when federal immigration officials review, or “audit,” an employer’s I-9 forms to make sure they are accurate, and that all its employees have work authorization. The audit may be conducted by either Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), a division within ICE. Those agencies can also audit the I-9 materials of persons who are no longer working from the employer.

Information for Undocumented Workers

It is important for undocumented workers to be informed about the protections they have from discrimination, unfair wages, harassment, and disclosure of citizenship status. In addition to the rights against their employers, union representation, and worker’s compensation benefits. This page provides more detail about the rights and remedies for undocumented workers.

Protections for Detained Salvadorans After a Worksite Raid

Information for attorneys and legal workers representing persons detained in immigration worksite raids (or in any enforcement action) about the permanent injunction that applies nationwide to nationals of El Salvador detained by immigration authorities.

Sample Letter: Re-verification of Employment Authorization

You may wish to use the sample letter on the next page if you are a worker in California who completed the I-9 form when you were hired, and your employer has now asked you to provide more or different documents to re-verify your eligibility to work in the United States.

Undocumented Workers’ Guide to Applying for California Disability Insurance & Paid Family Leave

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for undocumented workers to apply for California Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits.

What to Do if ICE Comes to Your Workplace

Generally speaking, unless you work in a public space, ICE cannot enter your workplace without a warrant signed by a judge or permission from your employer or someone else who is authorized to use and let others into your workplace.

Workplace Raids - Workers Rights

This fact sheet offers information on workplace raids — including your rights during a raid — plus tips on how to prepare for a raid at your workplace. It also describes how raids are conducted. Remember that everyone has rights during a workplace raid — regardless of their immigration status.

Community Education Resources: Workers' Rights

Learn about your rights rights as a worker in California. Below are educational resources on issues including unpaid wages, overtime, unemployment insurance benefits, wrongful termination, retaliation, discrimination/harassment, health and safety, and more.

Deferred Action for Noncitizen/Undocumented Workers in Labor Disputes

As of the present time, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a process to allow certain immigrant workers to seek temporary legal status and work authorization in the United States. This temporary status, called “Deferred Action for Labor Enforcement” (DALE), is meant to encourage workers to report employers’ unlawful practices without fear of immigration consequences, including deportation.

Document Abuse (Identification Documents at Work): Things You Should Know About Proving Your Work Status to Your Employer

Document abuse occurs when an employer does not permit a worker to use any combination of documents that are legally acceptable but, instead, specifies which documents s/he must use, or requires more documents than are legally required by the Form I-9. Therefore, if an employer refuses to accept legally acceptable documents that appear genuine on their face from a work-authorized immigrant worker, the employer has committed document abuse.

Employers: What to do if ICE comes to your Workplace

This guide, developed in collaboration with the National Employment Law Project (NELP), provides practical advice for addressing immigration-related actions in the workplace.

Employment Rights of Undocumented Workers

With just a few exceptions, undocumented workers enjoy all of the legal rights and remedies provided by both Federal and California law.

Find an Immigration Lawyer

Protect yourself and your family. Get immigration advice from a licensed professional.

I-9 Audits

An immigration I-9 audit is when federal immigration officials review, or “audit,” an employer’s I-9 forms to make sure they are accurate, and that all its employees have work authorization. The audit may be conducted by either Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) or Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), a division within ICE. Those agencies can also audit the I-9 materials of persons who are no longer working from the employer.

Information for Undocumented Workers

It is important for undocumented workers to be informed about the protections they have from discrimination, unfair wages, harassment, and disclosure of citizenship status. In addition to the rights against their employers, union representation, and worker’s compensation benefits. This page provides more detail about the rights and remedies for undocumented workers.

Protections for Detained Salvadorans After a Worksite Raid

Information for attorneys and legal workers representing persons detained in immigration worksite raids (or in any enforcement action) about the permanent injunction that applies nationwide to nationals of El Salvador detained by immigration authorities.

Sample Letter: Re-verification of Employment Authorization

You may wish to use the sample letter on the next page if you are a worker in California who completed the I-9 form when you were hired, and your employer has now asked you to provide more or different documents to re-verify your eligibility to work in the United States.

Undocumented Workers’ Guide to Applying for California Disability Insurance & Paid Family Leave

This guide provides step-by-step instructions for undocumented workers to apply for California Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL) benefits.

What to Do if ICE Comes to Your Workplace

Generally speaking, unless you work in a public space, ICE cannot enter your workplace without a warrant signed by a judge or permission from your employer or someone else who is authorized to use and let others into your workplace.

Workplace Raids - Workers Rights

This fact sheet offers information on workplace raids — including your rights during a raid — plus tips on how to prepare for a raid at your workplace. It also describes how raids are conducted. Remember that everyone has rights during a workplace raid — regardless of their immigration status.

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