Former Meta Manager Sues Meta Over Immigration Document Dispute

Meta Platforms is facing a lawsuit from former Product Design Manager James Tillinghast, who alleges that the company terminated him after he refused to sign an immigration support letter containing statements he considered inaccurate. The lawsuit was filed in a New Jersey federal district court on August 17. Tillinghast is seeking more than $1 million in damages for alleged lost pay and stock equity.

According to the complaint, the dispute began in 2024 when Meta's immigration legal team asked Tillinghast to sign a reference letter supporting a colleague's application for a Green Card under the EB-2 National Interest Waiver programme. The draft allegedly stated that the employee had generated about $638 million in additional advertising revenue for Meta, directly developed key artificial intelligence and algorithm tools, and led large cross-functional teams.

Tillinghast claims the statements in the draft were substantially exaggerated and that he revised the document to include only claims he could truthfully endorse. The lawsuit alleges that after he declined to approve the original version, another manager signed the letter instead. Tillinghast maintains that his refusal was based on what he considered a good-faith obligation not to submit materially inaccurate information to US Citizenship and Immigration Services or attach his professional credentials to unsupported claims.

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The former manager further alleges that his internal access was revoked shortly after he raised his concerns and that Meta terminated him in September 2024. According to the lawsuit, he had no previous negative performance record, while the company allegedly cited performance concerns when explaining his dismissal. Tillinghast contends that the stated performance reasons were a pretext for retaliation over his refusal to endorse the immigration document.

The lawsuit also accuses Meta of providing preferential immigration assistance to certain employees based on national origin rather than applying neutral and consistent criteria. The complaint seeks compensation for alleged financial losses, including lost salary and stock equity. These allegations have not been established in court, and the case will depend on evidence and legal arguments presented during the proceedings.

Meta has not publicly commented on the lawsuit. The case adds to scrutiny of how large technology companies handle employee immigration matters, particularly when managers are asked to provide professional references or supporting documentation for immigration applications. The court will now consider the allegations and Meta's response as the legal proceedings move forward.

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