In a decision on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney in San Francisco rejected Wells Fargo’s argument that lenders are permitted under a more recent federal anti-discrimination law to consider immigration status before granting loans.
Filed in January, the proposed class action accused Wells Fargo of denying student loans and credit cards to immigrants granted work permits under the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program enacted by former Democratic President Barack Obama.
The federal initiative allows immigrants who were brought to the United State without documents as children to temporarily avoid deportation and work in the United States. Republican President Donald Trump, who criticized the program during his campaign, has not taken any action to end it since taking office.
The decision reaffirms the right of noncitizens, including those with DACA status, to be offered credit on the same terms as U.S. citizens, ” said Michael Litrownik, a lawyer for the immigrants.
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