SpaceX Accused of Hiring Discrimination Against Refugees and Asylum Seekers

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Thursday towards SpaceX for allegedly refusing to rent refugees and asylum seekers. The DOJ stated the corporate incorrectly cited federal rules to justify discriminatory hiring practices.

The lawsuit claims that SpaceX routinely discouraged refugees and asylees from making use of for open positions on the firm, didn’t take into account purposes submitted by refugees and asylees, and repeatedly rejected job candidates primarily based on their citizenship standing.

SpaceX, which was based by Elon Musk, who himself turned a U.S. citizen in 2002, would declare in its job postings that the corporate may solely rent U.S. residents and everlasting residents (or greencard holders), based on the criticism. The firm allegedly cited export management legal guidelines such because the International Traffic in Arms Regulations(ITAR), nevertheless, federal rules don’t impose these restrictions, based on the Justice Department.

“SpaceX’ s discriminatory hiring practices were routine, widespread, and longstanding, and harmed asylees and refugees,” the lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, acknowledged.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division started investigating SpaceX in May 2020 upon receiving a criticism of hiring discrimination inside the firm. SpaceX didn’t initially reply to the DOJ’s request for employment information and ignored a subpoena concerning the investigation, per the go well with. In August 2021, the house firm was pressured at hand over the employment information after two federal judges dominated towards it.

The information revealed that SpaceX “repeatedly rejected applicants who identified as asylees or refugees by using the rejection code titled, “not authorized to work/ITAR ineligible,” from at the least September 2018 to May 2022, based on the lawsuit.

“Asylees and refugees have overcome many obstacles in their lives, and unlawful employment discrimination based on their citizenship status should not be one of them,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, stated in an announcement. “Through this lawsuit we will hold SpaceX accountable for its illegal employment practices and seek relief that allows asylees and refugees to fairly compete for job opportunities and contribute their talents to SpaceX’s workforce.”