The US government has announced that it is preparing to sue Elon Musk’s SpaceX, alleging discrimination in the hiring process against asylees and refugees. The lawsuit claims that SpaceX discouraged and refused to hire or consider these individuals based on their citizenship status, violating the Immigration and Nationality Act. The allegations cover a period from September 2018 to May 2022. The Justice Department filed the lawsuit today, signaling its intent to hold SpaceX accountable for alleged discriminatory practices.
Elon Musk, known for his involvement in high-profile tech companies like Tesla and Neurolink, now faces a legal battle with the US government over SpaceX’s hiring practices. The lawsuit accuses SpaceX of discriminating against asylees and refugees, a violation of immigration laws. This adds to the spotlight Musk has been under after acquiring Twitter. The US Justice Department filed the lawsuit, claiming that SpaceX wrongly cited federal regulations, known as “export control laws,” which the company used to only hire US citizens and lawful permanent residents. The lawsuit argues that these laws do not impose such restrictions and that asylees and refugees have equal rights under them.
In addition to the allegations of discrimination, the lawsuit exposes SpaceX’s misrepresentation of “export control laws” in its job postings. The company falsely stated that they could only hire US citizens and lawful permanent residents due to these laws. However, the lawsuit contends that there are no such restrictions imposed by these laws and that asylees and refugees possess the necessary authorization to live and work in the United States. They are considered equal to US citizens and lawful permanent residents under the export control laws. The lawsuit aims to address these alleged violations of hiring practices and push for fair treatment of asylees and refugees by SpaceX.