IS this legal to have in an ad?

"Applicant must: * Be in the United States lawfully."

"Applicant must be in the United States lawfully" =/= "applicant must be a United States citizen."

That said, you can't discriminate based on national origin or perceived status. But you can discriminate on other things-- a certain credit score, a certain amount of time at the job, a certain type of rental history. But you have to apply those standards to everyone.

As a totally random aside, I was driving last week and saw a nice, ordinary house in the country for rent with a handwritten sign in the front yard-- requesting that only adults apply, no families with children. If I wasn't in a hurry, I would have totally stopped to take a picture.

Thanks, Deanna.

In Law School, a class in college, in my Contractors Handbook and the latest Landlord Bible, it all stated it was Illegal to ask ones Naturalization Status for Work or Renting an apartment. Are they a Citizen or not?

But picking up day labors from Pico Blvd and La Brea

ave., I was pulled over by Cops, the Los Angeles Police Department. They stopped me because I was picking up day laborers, from across the border, Mexico. Dark Skinned.

The Cops asked me if my helpers were legal? Did they have green cards? I said to the Cops, "What the "F" did you say""!

I had to educate them in employment law... I was let off without any trouble. Cops had to be re-trained. This was back in 1987. Things haven't changed much since then.

I think it's a totally reasonable requirement, and not "technically" discriminating against national origin.

But, it's close enough to possibly cause trouble if someone wants to push it.

6er,

Can you prove you are here legally? What would you use to make sure you are cleared? Perhaps you could instead ask for whatever piece of ID that you would be using or an acceptable substitute.