The Justice Department’s Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) today announced grant funding available for public education programs that provide workers or employers with information about immigration-related employment discrimination under the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

The program is open to public service and other organizations that provide services to potential victims of immigration-related employment discrimination and/or employers. Recipients will assist discrimination victims; conduct seminars for workers, employers and immigration service providers; distribute educ ational materials in various languages; and place advertisements in local communities through both mainstream and ethnic media to educate workers and employers about their rights. In 2009, a total of $7 23,000 was awarded to 12 organizations serving communities throughout the country.

The grants ranged from approximately $51,000 to $87 ,000.The INA prohibits discrimination against U.S. citizens and work authorized non-citizens on the basis of citizenship status or national origin in hiring, firing and recruiting or referring for a fee. In addition, the provision prohibits discriminatory over-documentation of authorized workers in the employment eligibility verification process. It also prohibits retaliation for conduct protected under the INA.

The deadline for submitting grant applications is 11:59 p.m. EDT on Thursday, May 27 , 2010. The grant announcement is available on OSC’s website at www.justice.gov/crt/oscor www.grants.gov .