Mathew Said:

Is it discrimination in NYC to ask for an additional month rent beforehand because of immigration status?

We Answered:

No it isn't. The CITIZENSHIP STATUS they refer to is of an illegal alien conviction or some one who has been convicted and is not yet deported or may be deported by law and for this reason shall not be discriminated upon because of the due process clause of a status hearing. In other words, the hearing can deport the person and has changed the status to pending, but if they are not deported by law, a landlord can not deport the person from NYC housing, thus sending them to the airport if they can't find a place to live. It has nothing to do with what rent rates can be charged. Last month is not an uncommon practice and you can't say that this person is charged unfairly if you have no evidence, that the landlord does not ever charge US Citizens last month rent. All you have is a non US citizen and a law with the words CITIZENSHIP STATUS.

New York City Human Rights law does not handle rental fees. You are like going there claiming the landlord charges non US citizens last month rent fees as if the landlord can't charge fees to a visitor once they land in JFK. Simply put, the landlord has the right to secure the last month if there is probable cause to suspect a flight out of the country.