National Origin

Immigration & Citizenship Status

FAIR HOUSING AND NATIONAL ORIGIN, IMMIGRATION, & CITIZENSHIP STATUS

In the U.S., local, state and federal fair housing laws prohibit discrimination against a person in housing-related transactions because of their national origin. These fair housing laws protect people regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. Different treatment in housing because of a person’s ancestry, ethnicity, birthplace, culture, or language is illegal. This means that people cannot be denied housing opportunities or treated differently because they or their family are from another country, because they have a name or accent associated with a national origin group, because they participate in certain customs associated with a national origin group, or because they are married to or associate with people of a certain national origin. Sometimes national origin discrimination can include or overlap with discrimination because of race, color, or religion.  

 

In addition to the above, the New York State Human Rights Law prohibits discrimination against a person in housing-related transactions because of their citizenship or immigration status. 

 

WHAT DOES NATIONAL ORIGIN, IMMIGRATION, OR CITIZENSHIP STATUS DISCRIMINATION LOOK LIKE?
 

• Refusing to rent or sell to you based on whether or not you are a citizen or green card holder;

• Refusing to rent or sell to you because you are an immigrant or refugee from a particular country;  

• Refusing to show a home to you that is for rent or sale because you are an immigrant or refugee from a particular country, or based on whether or not you are a citizen or green card holder; 

• Refusing to rent to you because you or others in your household do not speak English;  

• Refusing to allow you to use interpretation or translation services when communicating with the housing provider; 

• Making available only housing located near other people who are from the same country as you or speak the same language as you;  

• Enforcing rules against you or your family because you are an immigrant or refugee but not enforcing those rules against anyone else;   

• Charging you more rent or a higher security deposit because of where you are from;  

• Requiring a cosigner because you are an immigrant or refugee; 

• A public housing authority refusing to provide a translator or provide documents in alternative languages upon request; 

• Asking questions about your immigration status because of how you look, speak, or dress; 

• Harassing or threatening you because of your national origin, or refusing to take action to address harassment from one of the housing provider’s employees or another resident.

Harassment or threats can include the following:  

• Threatening to call ICE; 

• Saying you will be deported;  

• Telling you to go back to your own country; 

• Painting graffiti or writing on your home;  

• Using slurs or threats of harm.

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If you think you have been the victim of housing discrimination because of your national origin, citizenship, or immigration status, please contact us for assistance.

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