ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has sued Advanced Technology Group, Inc, (ATG), a project-based construction services company based in Oregon. The EEOC alleges that ATG violated federal law by allowing harassment of American workers at its Rio Rancho, New Mexico location, and firing at least one American employee because he complained about the harassment.
According to a May 12, 2026 EEOC press release, at least two ATG employees in June 2023 were subjected to anti-American slurs by their Mexican coworkers. They also took one of the American employee’s tools without his permission, thereby impeding his ability to work, and ignored his directives and derided him because he could not speak Spanish fluently.
The employee reportedly complained about the harassment to his direct supervisor, “who did nothing to address the harassment, leading to more harassment and more complaints.”
“Discrimination against American workers is unconscionable,” said Andrea R. Lucas, EEOC chair. “The EEOC is here to protect all workers from anti-American bias. Nothing justifies illegal national origin discrimination, and we will vigorously enforce federal laws to restore dignity to the American worker.”
Mary Jo O’Neill, regional attorney for the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office, said, “Employers have a legal duty to prevent and stop all harassment based on national origin, including harassment of American workers. Employers are required to investigate any complaints of national origin harassment and to take prompt action to stop the harassment.”
EEOC officials contend that such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on national origin, including American national origin. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. ATG, Case No. 1:26-cv-01501-KK-SCY) in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its administrative conciliation process.
ATG officials contend that the terminated worker was fired for nearly falling asleep while supporting a 100-pound beam, which is considered a serious safety violation.