The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, accusing the company of discriminating against asylum seekers and refugees during its hiring process. The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX discouraged these individuals from applying and refused to hire or consider them because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Justice Department made this announcement in a press release on Thursday.
According to the lawsuit, SpaceX’s job postings have incorrectly stated for years that only US citizens or lawful permanent residents, also known as “green card holders,” could apply. These postings claimed that rocket technology, which SpaceX works with, is protected by the State Department’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) laws.
One job listing for a Propulsion Technician at SpaceX explicitly states that only US citizens, lawful permanent residents, protected individuals, or those who can receive a waiver from the State Department are eligible to apply. This reinforces the claim made by the Justice Department in its lawsuit.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, has previously expressed his desire to hire talent from abroad but has cited State Department restrictions as a hindrance. In a 2016 press conference, Musk stated that national security laws prevent him from hiring foreigners.
The lawsuit argues that refugees and asylum seekers should have the same employment rights as US citizens under the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. This law abolished the previous system of preferential admission, which favored immigrants from certain regions, and implemented a limit on immigrants from the western hemisphere.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit covers a wide range of job positions at SpaceX, including welders, cooks, crane operators, baristas, and dishwashers. The department seeks fair consideration and back pay for asylees and refugees who were deterred or denied employment, as well as civil penalties against the company.
In its press release, the Justice Department called on refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced work denials or discouragement to join the lawsuit. The department wants those affected to come forward and share their experiences.
As of now, Elon Musk has not commented on the lawsuit. However, he has been engaged in a feud with President Joe Biden’s administration since purchasing Twitter, which he later renamed X. Musk has used the platform to share documents alleging a conspiracy by the White House, FBI, and other government agencies to control information flow on the site. This led to reports of a national security investigation into Musk.
Interestingly, just before the lawsuit was announced, Musk stated on Twitter that his company would be taking legal action against liberal megadonor George Soros. This action was in response to Soros’s support for controversial hate speech legislation in Ireland and Scotland.
Overall, this lawsuit against SpaceX highlights the allegations of discrimination in the company’s hiring process towards refugees and asylum seekers. The Justice Department seeks to ensure fair consideration for these individuals, rectify the employment denials, and impose penalties on the company if found guilty.
Source link
