Division of Human Rights Launched Investigation After Reports That Housing Provider Posted Signage About Reporting Immigrants to ICE Based Only on Their National Origin 

Complaint Resolution Includes $55,000 Fine and Requires Housing Provider to Implement Fair Housing Policies 

The New York State Division of Human Rights today announced a $55,000 penalty and important fair housing policy mandates in a housing discrimination case against the owners, managers, and agents of a residential building in Jamaica, Queens. The Division filed a complaint after reports that the housing providers posted a sign in their building lobby encouraging reports to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) based only on an individual’s national origin. The Division filed a complaint against Parsons 88 Realty LLC, Zara Realty Holding Corp., and several additional individuals, alleging that the sign in the building lobby violated the New York State Human Rights Law’s protections against national origin discrimination by pre-supposing that tenants who immigrated to the United States did not have lawful residency status and sending the message that tenants born outside this country were not welcome even if they were law-abiding members of their community. The Division’s complaint also alleged that the housing providers subsequently retaliated against tenants for cooperating with Division investigators, including by threatening them with immigration raids. 

As part of the complaint resolution announced today, the respondents—who own several thousand residential units in New York City and Long Island—agreed to pay a $55,000 fine to New York State in addition to implementing several policy changes aimed at preventing unlawful discrimination in the future. These measures include the display of the Division’s regulatory fair housing poster in a common area within the building, implementation of a written fair housing policy, removal of questions from their rental policy pertaining to an applicant’s and/or tenant’s national origin, and participation in a fair housing training program for various employees of the respondents. 

“Let us be clear: New York remains committed to protecting anyone who is discriminated against or harassed because of their national origin, citizenship, or immigration status,” New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Denise M. Miranda, Esq. said. “It is unacceptable, unconscionable, and illegal for housing providers to discriminate against their tenants simply because of where they are from. We will continue our work to call out all forms of hate, bias, and discrimination across our state.” 

The Division Initiated Action Unit (DIAU), a unit of the Division of Human Rights, is empowered by law to investigate systematic patterns of discrimination and file complaints on behalf of the Division. In the case that underlies today’s announcement, DIAU launched an investigation into reports that a housing provider in Jamaica, Queens, posted a sign in the lobby of their building that encouraged individuals to call the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) to report “suspicious criminal activity.” In addition to listing specific criminal offenses like terrorism and child abuse, the “suspicious criminal activity” identified on the sign also included “immigration.” In its complaint, the Division alleged that the sign sent the message that tenants born outside of the United States were unwelcome even if they were law-abiding residents and members of their community. The Division subsequently found that the sign was not created by or authorized for posting by ICE. 

According to the Division’s complaint in this case, the building superintendent and another agent of the management company harassed and intimidated witnesses cooperating with the Division’s investigation by threatening them with immigration raids and telling them that immigration authorities had arrived at the building and were “rounding up tenants.” Additionally, the complaint alleged that Division investigators were harassed by building employees who attempted to interfere with the investigation by demanding to know who the Division was interviewing. 

Following its investigation, the Division filed a complaint alleging that the housing providers’ ICE referral sign and verbal threats to tenants seeking to cooperate with the Division’s investigation violated the Human Rights Law. 

The settlement announced today resolves the complaint filed by the Division. As part of this agreement, the respondents agreed to pay a $55,000 civil fine and penalty, display the Division’s regulatory Fair Housing Poster in a common area within the subject building, implement a written Fair Housing Policy, remove questions from their rental policy pertaining to an applicant’s and/or tenant’s national origin, and have several employees participate in a fair housing training program. 

In addition, the terms of the settlement include a three-year period of compliance review to be conducted by the Division. As part of this compliance review period, respondents will be required to periodically submit copies of their rental policies, copies of advertisements for the building, and copies of applications received for the building, a log of each application’s determination. If the respondents do not comply with the terms of the settlement agreement, the Division may initiate further proceedings to enforce compliance and seek additional penalties. 

About the New York State Division of Human Rights 

The New York State Division of Human Rights is dedicated to eliminating discrimination, remedying injustice, and promoting equal opportunity, access, and dignity. 

Anyone who believes they have experienced discrimination can report it to the Division by calling 844-NYS-DHR1 (844-697-3471) or visiting dhr.ny.gov/complaint. If it is under the Division’s authority, Division staff will investigate. Throughout this process, the Division is a neutral factfinder representing the interests of the State—not functioning as an advocate or attorney on behalf of either party. All of the Division’s procedures are conducted free of charge, and members of the public are not required to have an attorney to file a complaint. 

The Division’s work shows that New York State will make violators of the law pay. During the Division’s 2025 Fiscal Year, the agency awarded more than $10 million in compensation to those who experienced discrimination. The Division can also order a wide range of additional remedies—including reinstatement to a job; back pay with interest and benefits; changes in policies; and a variety of other forms of compensation and remediation. 

For more information about the law or to report discrimination, please visit dhr.ny.gov, and follow the Division of Human Rights on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, X, and YouTube.