Instacart Operator Agrees to $5 Million Settlement Over Alleged Bias Against U.S.-Born Job Seekers

The U.S. Justice Department said it reached a $5 million settlement with Maplebear Inc., which operates Instacart, over allegations that the company discriminated against U.S.-born workers in hiring. The department's Civil Rights Division and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission described the claims. The department said the company discriminated based on country of origin, violating the Immigration and Nationality Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It said Instacart misused the Permanent Labor Certification process by requiring American applicants to mail in applications, unlike its standard electronic process, from December 2023 through February 2026. Separately, a department administrative law judge ruled in early August that discriminatory advertising is not a distinct cause of action under the INA, and Attorney General Todd Blanche did not review it within sixty days.

Alternative/independent coverage, from AP, reports the settlement and names both the Justice Department and the EEOC. Left-leaning outlets had not reported the story at the time of writing; alternative and right-leaning outlets had. Right-leaning coverage differs in focus. Fox News leads with the settlement and the DOJ's allegations, alongside Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling on H-1B abuse. Breitbart focuses on the separate ruling, quoting lawyer John Miano and 13 House members' request for review.