Feds accuse Facebook of discriminating against Americans in hiring

In a lawsuit announced on Thursday, the Department of Justice alleges the social media company refused to recruit, consider or hire qualified U.S.

workers for the positions it had reserved for temporary visa holders.

Facebook sponsored visa holders for "green cards" authorizing them to work permanently, according to the agency.

workers a fair opportunity to learn about and apply for jobs" that it instead sought to channel to temporary visa holders, the Justice Department said in a statement.

In the lawsuit, prosecutors accuse Facebook of hiring foreigners who carried a temporary visa.

Facebook would create the position, then fill it with the foreigner who asked for it, the Justice Department alleged.

"The Department of Justice's lawsuit alleges that Facebook engaged in intentional and widespread violations of the law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified U.S.

"Facebook does not advertise the positions on its website, does not accept applications online, and requires candidates to mail in their applications," federal prosecutors said in the lawsuit.

The preference for foreign applicants was intentional, widespread and part of the company hiring practices from 2018 to at least September 2019, Justice Department officials allege. .