Document: 414 U.S. 86 94 S.Ct. 334 38 L.Ed.2d 287 Cecilia ESPINOZA and Rudolfo Espinoza, Petitioners,v.FARAH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. No. 72—671. Argued Oct. 10, 11, 1973. Decided Nov. 19, Syllabus Petitioners, Mr. And Mrs. brought suit after exhausting their administrative remedies with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleging that respondent's refusal to hire Espinoza in its San Antonio division because of her Mexican citizenship violated § 703 Title VII Civil Rights Act 1964, which makes it an unlawful employment practice for employer fail or refuse any individual his race, color, religion, sex, national origin. The District Court granted petitioners' motion summary judgment, relying primarily on EEOC guideline providing a lawful alien resident may not be discriminated against basis citizenship. Appeals reversed. Held: An employer's person he is United States citizen does constitute discrimination 'national origin' violation 703. Pp. 88—86. (a) In light statute's legislative history long-standing requiring federal employees citizens, clear Congress did intend term embrace requirements. 88—89. (b) EEOC's guideline, though perhaps significant wide range other situations, apply here support premise tantamount origin, since there no showing respondent (96% whose are Mexican-Americans) persons 92—95. (c) Though protects aliens illegal proscribe alienage. P. 95. 5. Cir., 462 F.2d 1331, affirmed. George Cooper, Antonio, Tex., petitioners. Kenneth R. Carr, El Paso, respondent. Justice MARSHALL delivered opinion Court. 1 This case involves interpretation phrase Tit. 1964. Petitioner lawfully admitted who was born remains Mexico. She resides Texas, husband, citizen. July 1969, sought as seamstress at Farah Manufacturing Co. Her application rejected longstanding company policy aliens. After Commission,1 petitioners commenced this had VII, 78 Stat. 255, 42 U.S.C. 2000e—2(a)(1). holding lack constitutes origin.' 343 F.Supp. 1205. reversed, concluding statutory 1331. We writ resolve question construction, 411 946, 93 1920, 36 408, now affirm. 2 Section 'an . such individual's Certainly plain language statute supports result reached by Appeals. face refers country where born, or, more broadly, from ancestors came.2 3 history, quite meager respect, fully construction. only direct definition given following remark made floor House Representatives Congressman Roosevelt, Chairman Subcommittee reported bill: 'It means you your forebears came. You come Poland, Czechoslovakia, England, France, country.' 110 Cong.Rec. 2549 (1964). also note earlier version referred 'race, ancestry.' H.R. 7152, 88th Cong., 1st Sess., 804, 2, 1963 (Comm. print) (emphasis added). deletion word 'ancestry' final intended material change, see, H.R.Rep.No.914, See. 87 (1963), suggesting terms were considered synonymous. 4 There compelling reasons believe Since 1914, Federal Government itself, through Service regulations, has engaged what amounts denying them right enter competitive examination employment. Exec. Order 1997, H.R.Doc.No. 1258, 63d 3d Sess. 118 (1914); see 5 3301; CFR 338.101 (1972). But never been suggested requirement even 1943, various Executive Orders have expressly prohibited origin See, e.g., 9346, 1280 (Cum.Supp. 1938—1943); 11478, 446 (1970). Moreover, 701(b) closely paralleling 703, 'the insure equal opportunities without ..' Pub.L. 88—352, 701(b), 254, re-enacted, 89—554, 80 523, 7151. section reveals mention intent Congress' part reverse citizens. To contrary, every indication reversal intended. itself several occasions 1964 enacted statutes barring Treasury, Postal Service, General Appropriation Act, 1973, example, provides 'no appropriation contained shall used pay compensation officer employee unless (1) States.'3 92—351, 602, 487. See 91—144, 502, 83 336; 91—439, 84 902. 6 interpret requirements would require us conclude repeatedly flouted own declaration policy. cannot lightly find breach faith. Bate Refrigerating v. Sulzberger, 157 1, 38, 15 508, 517, 39 L.Ed. 601 (1895). So far concerned, we think assumed ban national-origin affect historical condition First National Bank St. Louis Missouri, 263 640, 658, 44 213, 215, 68 486 (1924). reason broader scope. Cf. King Smith, 392 309, 330—331, 88 2128, 2140, 20 1118 (1968). 7 Petitioners regulations discriminating noncitizens unconstitutional under Due Process Clause Fifth Amendment. need address here,4 issue presented whether power discriminate employment, but rather, prohibit private Suffice say once continue and, same time, prevent employers doing likewise. Interpreting suggest achieve rather bizarre preventing insisting while very agency charged enforcement required place personnel. 8 drew primary interpretative issued provides: 9 'Because effect immigrated domiciled residing 29 1606.1(d) 10 Like Appeals, occasion general validity insofar can read expression Commission's belief many situations some instances, might one wider scheme discrimination. cases, use test pretext disguise fact prohibits whenever purpose 'The proscribes overt practices fair form, discriminatory operation.' Griggs Duke Power Co., 401 424, 431, 91 849, 853, 28 158 (1971). 11 It equally clear, however, these principles lend case. record Farah's origin.5 conceded accepts provided concerned become American Indeed, found ancestry make up than 96% company's division, 97% those work applied. While statistics do automatically shield charge discrimination, matter respect job sought. denied she yet achieved fact, shows worker hired Spanish surname. 12 significance premise—that origin—is borne out.6 held different view meaning When first confronted question, Commission, Counsel, said: "National came ., Counsel's Opinion Letter, CCH Prac. Guide 1220.20 (1967).7 recent relied doubt entitled great deference, supra, U.S., 434, 855; Phillips Martin Marietta Corp., 400 542, 545, 496, 498, 27 613 (1971) (Marshall, J., concurring), deference must limits where, here, inconsistent obvious congressional reach question. Courts defer construction 'compelling indications wrong.' Red Lion Broadcasting FCC, 395 367, 381, 89 1794, 1802, 23 371 (1969); Zuber Allen, 396 168, 193, 90 314, 328, 24 345 Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft FMC, 390 261, 272, 929, 935, 19 1090 13 Finally, seek draw all individuals they citizens States. agree protected Act. That derived 'any individual' negative inference exemption 702, 'shall outside State 2000e-1. clearly inside State.8 14 posed present case, kinds illegal. origin—for hiring Anglo-Saxon background refusing ancestry. Aliens nothing neither nor specific facts indicate origin.9 16 Affirmed. 17 DOUGLAS, dissenting. 18 odd holds bar law1 deny aliens2 account so permit Alienage results only: being Those within birth. could Rarah's excluding de facto preferring country. Therefore placed upon provision Act's protections race sex. connection racial said 'practices, procedures, tests neutral face, intent,' if create 'artificial, arbitrary, unnecessary barriers when operate invidiously impermissible classification.' 430—431, diploma racially neutral, unable justify related performance. involved eliminate blacks seeking just applicants foreign Respondent explicitly imposed regard alien's qualifications job. 21 These whom Chicanos. brown, yellow, black, white, thrust clear: alienage barrier here. Griggs, I understood until today, extends protective all, alone. Our cases sex yield Griggs. 22 majority extraordinary departure prior opposed law responsibility enforcing protections. takes permissible position: always Refusing 'is based birth thus VII.' Brief Amicus Curiae. weight. cast construction.3 flies underlying removing barrier(s) employment.' McDonnell Douglas Corp. Green, 792, 806, 1817, 1826, 668 (1973). permanent alien, married citizen, children will native-born generation greatest adjustments new Their unfamiliarity America most vulnerable exploitation treatment. They, course, obligation taxes, subject draft basis. received treatment market. Writing immigrants late 1800's, Oscar Handlin 25 'For want alternative, took lowest places ranks industry. They suffered consequence poor miserable working conditions characteristic sweatshops homework garment trades cigar making. undoubtedly better off Irish Germans 1840's all.' Newcomers (1959). 26 decides today passing sweeping legislation guaranteeing opportunities, help immigrant's children, 'for (is) impute niggardly Congress. 706(e), 2000e—5(e). Minnesota Against Discrimination, Minn.Stat. 363.01, subd. (1971), defining lineal ancestors.' Several making apparently interpreted appropriate state For New York Human Law additionally pre-employment inquiry 'which expresses directly indirectly, limitation, specification N.Y. 296 (McKinney's Consol. Laws, c. 18, 1972). Discrimination ruled ask applicant 26,051, p. 8899. interpretations control our law, indicative understanding argue unreasonable attribute provisions determining tucked away appropriations bills expressed affirmative fashion. disagree. occasionally exceptions indicates well aware doing. 92—204, 85 726 (Dept. Defense); 91—382, 823 (Library Congress). left undecided Sugarman Dougall, 413 634, 646 n. 12, 2842, 2855, 37 853 Jalil Hampton, 148 U.S.App.D.C. 415, 460 923, cert. denied, 409 887, 112, 34 144 (1972); Mow Sun Wong 333 527 (ND Cal.1971). suggestion, refused Spanish-speaking origins. Respondent's president informed Regional Director investigating single exception aliens, nationality revealed record. asks disadvantages A States, argument goes, obtains birth, elsewhere acquire long sometimes difficult process. §§ 1423(1), 1423(2), 1427(a), 1430. answer burdens naturalization country, laws pursuant constitutional '(t)o establish uniform Rule Naturalization.' U.S.Const., Art. 8, cl. 4. Petitioners' reliance misplaced similar reasons. 'one 2000e—1. Id., 544, S.Ct., 498. Farah, requires Letter addressed nonresident favor reserved decision 'regarding aliens.' Nevertheless, set forth 'Title individuals, both noncitizens, 1606.1(c) 1981, 'All jurisdiction Territory enforce contracts, sue, parties, give evidence, full benefit proceedings security property enjoyed white raised before courts below petition certiorari. Accordingly express views thereon. re Griffiths, 717, 2851, 910 points Roosevelt's origin': Supra, 89. argue—that comes majority's 'ancestry,' ibid., certainly irrelevant. Obviously comprehends Roosevelt pointed out more—not one's himself born.

Category: 1