“A Latino civil rights group is suing a Pennsylvania-based property administration firm for denying a DACA recipient entry to rental models primarily based solely on her immigration standing.
MALDEF (Mexican American Authorized Protection and Instructional Fund) and Saul Ewing LLP filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Khrysta De Guzman, a recipient of Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The swimsuit challenges Altman Administration Firm LLC and two condominium complexes’ coverage of refusing housing to DACA recipients primarily based on immigration standing.
“Housing discrimination towards DACA recipients is just not solely irrational, it’s illegal,” mentioned Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF president and basic counsel. “Our economic system – and our humanity – are distorted and diminished after we enable such discrimination to happen.”
In 2023, De Guzman and her U.S. citizen fiancé submitted an software to hire from Autumn Ridge Flats, owned by HP Altman Autumn Ridge LLC and operated by Altman Administration Firm LLC. A leasing supervisor at Autumn Ridge House knowledgeable Guzman that her software was denied as a result of her government-issued employment authorization card was not enough and that they required proof of residency or visa info. De Guzman, 25, then utilized to hire an condominium from Inverness Flats, owned by Inverness Flats LLC and likewise operated by Altman Administration Firm LLC. Once more, her software was denied due to immigration standing.
“These denials have resulted in one other frozen chapter of my life.,” mentioned De Guzman. “Moreover, it serves to remind us DACA holders that we aren’t absolutely accepted by U.S. society. Regardless of working, paying taxes and contributing to the economic system.”
MALDEF attorneys argue that Altman and two condominium complexes’ refusal to contemplate De Guzman for housing due to DACA is a violation of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1866, as codified at 42 U.S.C. § 1981, which prohibits discrimination primarily based on alienage or lack of U.S. citizenship.
“Landlords can’t penalize renters due to their alienage,” Lozada says. “Defendants’ discriminatory acts adversely have an effect on DACA recipients and immigrants the place they’ll dwell and work.”
De Guzman arrived within the U.S. as a baby and have become a DACA recipient in 2016. She at present works as a warehouse affiliate and attends faculty. She and her fiancé sought to maneuver to scale back Guzman’s commute time for college.
Altman Administration Firm LLC is Pennsylvania-based building firm that operates practically 80 condominium communities in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit was filed within the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of New Jersey. MALDEF attorneys are searching for class certification.
Learn the grievance HERE.”
