President Joe Biden apparently believes rocket scientists are among the horde of illegal aliens surging across the southwest border and is mad Elon Musk won’t hire them to build space rockets.
The Biden administration Thursday filed a lawsuit against Musk’s SpaceX, claiming the company has shown bias against asylum seekers and refugees in its hiring procedures.
The Justice Department is seeking backpay for individuals who were reportedly denied employment opportunities, according to a statement released by the agency.
The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying and refused to hire them because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act,” the DOJ said in a statement.
“The fundamental principle of ITAR law is that US companies who have advanced weapons technology, such as rockets with intercontinental range, must hire people who are permanent American residents, so that the technology does not fall into the hands of countries who wish us harm,” Musk responded Friday.
Musk has previously expressed dissatisfaction with Biden, particularly in relation to the promotion of electric vehicles, according to a report from the Daily Mail.
He has also commented on the perceived lack of acknowledgment from the president regarding SpaceX’s achievements, notably its first all-civilian mission, the report added.
Industry experts have highlighted the increasing dependence of the U.S. on Musk for space transportation and electric vehicle infrastructure, the report noted.
The crux of the Justice Department’s lawsuit revolves around SpaceX’s claims in job advertisements and statements.
The company advertised that federal regulations, specifically export control laws, restrict its hiring to only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, commonly known as “green card holders.”
Elon Musk, in a post from June 16, 2020, on a social media platform, stated: “U.S. law requires at least a green card to be hired at SpaceX, as rockets are advanced weapons technology.”
The Justice Department has also referenced online posts from Musk it claims constitutes evidence of discriminatory public statements.
“Our investigation found that SpaceX failed to fairly consider or hire asylees and refugees because of their citizenship status and imposed what amounted to a ban on their hire regardless of their qualification, in violation of federal law,” said U.S. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.
Clarke further noted that SpaceX’s recruiters and top officials “actively discouraged” asylum seekers and refugees from exploring job opportunities with the company.
The Justice Department is not only seeking backpay for those allegedly affected by SpaceX’s hiring practices but also civil penalties, the amount of which will be determined by the court.
Additionally, the lawsuit calls for policy modifications to ensure SpaceX’s adherence to federal nondiscrimination guidelines in the future.
It is unclear if Biden is requiring government agencies tasked with U.S. security and nuclear weapons development, also, to hire illegal aliens.
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