DOL and EEOC Formalize Project Firewall Partnership to Step Up National Origin Bias Enforcement

Employers should expect multiagency data sharing with referrals targeting practices that favor visa holders over U.S. workers.

Overview

On November 24, the Labor Department announced a formal partnership with the EEOC under Project Firewall to intensify enforcement against hiring practices that disadvantage American workers.
The coordinated effort includes data sharing and aligned enforcement pathways with the Justice Department’s Immigrant and Employee Rights Section and DHS’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
EEOC’s November 19 one-page guidance and updated web resources reiterate that Title VII protects American workers and flag high‑risk conduct such as job ads like “H‑1B preferred,” disparate treatment, harassment, and retaliation.
The EEOC warns that cost savings, client preferences, or stereotypes are not valid defenses for preferring foreign nationals over qualified U.S. applicants.
Advisers urge employers to audit postings and vendors, standardize screening, review sponsorship and PERM practices, train managers, and keep clear documentation as interagency investigations and settlements accelerate.