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On Thursday, the US Justice Department initiated legal action against SpaceX regarding its hiring practices. The lawsuit alleges that Elon Musk’s aerospace company has engaged in discriminatory behavior towards asylum seekers and refugees.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, “Our investigation has revealed that SpaceX’s hiring practices exhibited bias against asylees and refugees based on their citizenship status. This approach effectively constituted a hiring prohibition irrespective of their qualifications, which is a direct violation of federal law.”
Clarke further elaborated in her statement, “Additionally, our inquiry unearthed instances where SpaceX recruiters and senior executives took deliberate measures that dissuaded asylees and refugees from pursuing employment opportunities within the organization.”
According to the Justice Department’s findings, spanning from September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX systematically discouraged individuals seeking asylum and refugees from submitting job applications due to their citizenship status.
The department highlighted, “SpaceX incorrectly interpreted federal regulations pertaining to ‘export control laws,’ erroneously asserting that the company was restricted to employing solely US citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly known as ‘green card holders.'”
The statement read, “Export control laws do not impose any hiring restrictions.”
In response, the Justice Department has announced its intention to pursue retroactive compensation for asylum seekers and refugees who were discouraged or denied employment at SpaceX, citing alleged discriminatory practices. The department also seeks court intervention to levy civil penalties on the company.
Mentioning the challenges that asylees and refugees have triumphed over, Assistant Attorney General Clarke asserted, “Unlawful employment discrimination rooted in their citizenship status should not be one of these challenges.”
She further stated, “Through this legal action, we aim to hold SpaceX accountable for its illicit employment protocols, while also striving for remedies that level the playing field for asylees and refugees, enabling them to compete fairly for job prospects and contribute their skills to the SpaceX workforce.”
