Immigration retaliation occurs when an employer threatens to come after you based on your immigration status in this country because you file a complaint or bring up a concern related to unfair employment practices or workplace safety. California law protects against these kinds of practices, to protect workers in California from abuses by employers. Immigration retaliation is a major problem in California. In 2017, ninety-four cases of retaliation complaints occurred, a sharp spike from 20 such complaints in 2016.