• The US Government has sued SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk, for alleged discrimination against asylees and refugees in their hiring process.
• The lawsuit claims that SpaceX discouraged and refused to hire asylees and refugees unlawfully based on their citizenship status.
• Additionally, SpaceX allegedly misled potential candidates by citing “export control laws” in job postings which do not actually restrict hiring practices.
US Government Sues Elon Musk’s SpaceX Over Alleged Discrimination
The United States government has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s company, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX), for allegedly discriminating in its hiring practices towards asylees and refugees. The lawsuit was filed by the Justice Department and covers a period of time from September 2018 to May 2022.
Allegations of Discriminatory Practices
The lawsuit alleges that SpaceX actively discouraged refugees and asylees from applying for positions with the company, unlawfully refusing them employment opportunities based on their citizenship status. This practice is in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which explicitly prohibits such bias in employment decisions.
Misuse of Export Control Laws
In addition to these allegations, the lawsuit also challenges the company’s use of “export control laws” in its job postings. According to the suit, this language was used to mislead potential candidates into thinking they were limited to only US citizens or lawful permanent residents due to export control laws; however, such laws do not impose restrictions on hiring practices.
Justice Department Comments
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke provided comment on this matter stating: “Our investigation found that [SpaceX] categorically denied job opportunities to non-citizens because of their citizenship status…Such conduct is unlawful under our nation’s civil rights laws.”
Conclusion
This latest development adds another layer of complexity to legal issues surrounding Elon Musk’s ventures, particularly concerning his high-profile company SpaceX. Although there have yet been no formal statements made from either party involved thus far, it will be interesting to see how this case plays out over time.