Biden DOJ sues Elon Musk

[Always in His Presence]

The US Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX, the Elon Musk-run rocket and spacecraft company with extensive government contracts, for allegedly discriminating against refugees in its hiring practices.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/24/world/spacex-justice-department-lawsuit-hiring-scn/index.html

Elon was asked this 2016

Unfortunately, this is not up to us. U.S. government regulations make it hard to get a job in the U.S., but if you are working on rocket technology, that's considered advanced weapons technology.

So, even a normal work visa isn't sufficient unless you get special permission from the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State. So, I want to be clear this is not out of some desire of SpaceX to just hire people with green cards.

The DOJ is suing Spacex for not hiring people that the DOJ specifically prevents from working on advanced weapons technology .

Welcome to 2023.

He is sued if he doesn’t and is imprisoned if he does.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Can you spot the rocket engineers and scientist?

 

[RocksInMyHead]

The law clearly states that refugees should be treated as US citizens and should have the same access to export-controlled materials and data as citizens and permanent residents (i.e. green card holders). Seems pretty clear-cut to me.

 

[Wings like Eagles]

Wonder what the real reason they are going after Elon Musk is.
Maybe just what seems to a lot of people to be the usual of late, punishment or compliance.

 

[That Guy 11200]

Can you spot the rocket engineers and scientist?

View attachment 335197

What do you think rocket engineers and scientists look like?

 

[Always in His Presence]

.

 

[Always in His Presence]

So, even a normal work visa isn't sufficient unless you get special permission from the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of State. So, I want to be clear this is not out of some desire of SpaceX to just hire people with green cards.

The law clearly states that refugees should be treated as US citizens and should have the same access to export-controlled materials and data as citizens and permanent residents (i.e. green card holders). Seems pretty clear-cut to me.

 

[iluvatar5150]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/24/world/spacex-justice-department-lawsuit-hiring-scn/index.html

The DOJ is suing Spacex for not hiring people that the DOJ specifically prevents from working on advanced weapons technology .

That’s not true, but then I actually read the article in your OP.

 

[Tinker Grey]

What has Biden to do with any of this?

 

[Always in His Presence]

That’s not true, but then I actually read the article in your OP.

That’s not true, but then I actually read the article in your OP.

CNN is stating something not true? do tell

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Can you spot the rocket engineers and scientist?

View attachment 335197

The best time to delete this post was right after it was made.

The second best time would be right now.

 

[Always in His Presence]

The best time to delete this post was right after it was made.

The second best time would be right now.

Nope - it points out the absurdity of the lawsuits = unless the people illegally crossing are not woman and children, indigent poor looking for a better life.

 

[iluvatar5150]

CNN is stating something not true? do tell

Nope, you’re the one getting it wrong.

I don’t suppose there’s much point in going round and around again. Folks who are interested can read your link and compare it to your summary of it.

 

[Trogdor the Burninator]

Assuming that the people in question (refugees) have been accepted as such by the US government at some point, and thus been granted some form of permanent residency, don't they then have work rights as residents?

Not sure if I see the issue?

 

[ThatRobGuy]

There is a certain measure hypocrisy here...

NASA (the public sector version):

“Other than extremely rare exceptions, you must be a US citizen to work for NASA as a civil service employee. If you are not a US citizen, you may wish to consider opportunities with one of our International Space Partners” says NASA’s website.

From NASA's website:

Per US law, refugees can apply for naturalized citizenship 5 years after their date of admission.


But for SpaceX (the private sector equivalent that operates in the same space), they have an obligation to hire refugees?

 

[Pommer]

The only out I see for Elmo is if there’s a conflict betwixt the labor law and statutes relating to the issuance of security-clearances.
That or simply hiring more refugees/alsyees.

 

[Gene2memE]

Link to the DoJ press release:

Justice Department Sues SpaceX for Discriminating Against Asylees and Refugees in Hiring

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for discriminating against asylees and refugees in hiring. The lawsuit alleges that, from at least September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying...

www.justice.gov

Link to the lawsuit filing:

https://www.justice.gov/media/1311656/dl?inline

If you think this is the "Biden DOJ" and a political exercise, I'll point you to paragraph 5-13 of the lawsuit filing.

It notes that the DOJ investigation into SpaceX started in May 2020 and was completed by the end of November 2020. It also notes that SpaceX failed to respond to DOJ's notices of investigation at that time. Remind me, who was US president then?

There is a certain measure hypocrisy here...

NASA (the public sector version):

“Other than extremely rare exceptions, you must be a US citizen to work for NASA as a civil service employee. If you are not a US citizen, you may wish to consider opportunities with one of our International Space Partners” says NASA’s website.

...
But for SpaceX (the private sector equivalent that operates in the same space), they have an obligation to hire refugees?

From the lawsuit:

SPACEX AND EXPORT COMPLIANCE UNDER ITAR AND EAR
22. SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft. Companies,
like SpaceX, are subject to export control laws and regulations, including the International
Traffic in Arms Regulations ("IT AR") and the Export Administration Regulations (":E;AR").
See 22 C.F.R. pt. 120 (2023); 15 C.F.R. ,pt. 730 (2023).
23. ITAR and EAR restrict an employer's ability to export certain goods, software, technology,
and technical data, referred to as export-controlled items.
24. SpaceX officials have repeatedly said publicly that they can only hire U.S. citizens and
lawful permanent residents because of export control laws and regulations, like ITAR.
25. But export control laws and regulations do not prohibit or restrict employers from hiring
asylees and refugees; those laws treat asylees and refugees just like U.S. citizens.
26. Under IT AR and EAR, "U.S. persons" working for U.S. companies can access exportr
controlled items without authorization from the U.S. government. A "U.S. person" under
IT AR and EAR, includes a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, a refugee, or
an asylee. 22 C.F.R. § 120.62; 15 C.F.R. pt. 772.

 

[Hans Blaster]

What do you think rocket engineers and scientists look like?

We're sneaky in that we look like regular people.

 

[Pommer]

We're sneaky in that we look like regular people.

How was Camp Cupcake?

 

[Hans Blaster]

How was Camp Cupcake?

It was very nice by the lake. Swimming. Boating. Hiking.