The party of "ThE lIbS wAnT tO TaKe AwAy OuR fReEdOmS!!!!1!!" everyone. As if we really needed proof that the GOP has zero interest in people's rights.
Vote people, because these suits will be dropped under a GOP president and we can't trust SCOTUS because the majority has more interest in what they can get out of GOP donors than what the Constitution actually says.
I did some reading up on this as it’s fairly interesting and I haven’t heard about this before. I found this article and it sounds like it’s less than $200k fine and two years monitoring. If I had to guess they might have used that as insurance against leaks of their innovative technology, drone ships and return to pad rockets, satellite technology etc. At least that’s what I hope as I want to give them the benefit of the doubt. Also potential sabotage. They also have government contracts with military I’m sure. Maybe it’s easier to risk a lawsuit for a few years of mitigating those risks. Just something to think about.
If it was most other business owners, I’d probably be a lot more likely to agree with your take regarding potentially doing it for the right reasons (protecting against espionage, sabotage, etc.). Then there is the fact that these are asylees/refugees, which I’d assume wouldn’t be hired in a position where espionage, sabotage, etc., are a possibility. Probably more like menial type jobs, away from “innovative technology” and “potential sabotage” positions.
And then there is the following claims from the JD link:
“SpaceX routinely discouraged asylees and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them, because of their citizenship status, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act” and;
“SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as export control laws, SpaceX could hire only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as green card holders. Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions.”
I’m not an attorney, but it seems like all they had to do is not discourage them, at the least, and at the most, just interview but not hire them. Oh, and keep their mouth shut about things they aren’t knowledgeable about the law.
My guess is this is an example of Hanlon’s Razor. A disconnect between their lawyers and their HR staff or hiring managers as to their specific obligations under ITAR would easily explain all of this.
I doubt there was even a specific refugee or asylee actually involved: a poorly-worded job posting would justify this complaint.
that’s disgusting behavior, and anyone involved with power should be fired. imagine the mentality of a person that wouldn’t hire a refugee. these people were forced out of their homelands, and they’re being singled out because of that. it should be an honor that a refugee chose our country, yet here these assholes are punishing them for it.
business-wise, it’s a stupid move. they come withe considerably different experiences and ways of thinking. their contributions would help brainstorm new ways and break group think. pushing them away helps to maintain the same old way of doing things rather than progressing.
it’s both an ethically and operationally bad move. they have lost my confidence. SpaceX has lost a fan.
Hang on, ain’t it a federal law that if you are employed govt aerospace program (which spacex is part of cause its NASA funded contractor) that only American born people can work for them ? Came up in the past and they responded quoting that the Govt wont let them.
In job postings and public statements over several years, SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as “export control laws,” SpaceX could hire only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as “green card holders.” Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions. Moreover, asylees’ and refugees’ permission to live and work in the United States does not expire, and they stand on equal footing with U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents under export control laws. Under these laws, companies like SpaceX can hire asylees and refugees for the same positions they would hire U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. And once hired, asylees and refugees can access export-controlled information and materials without additional government approval, just like U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
It's not an interpretation. It's defined in relatively simple to understand English.
U.S. Person - a natural person who is a lawful permanent resident as defined in 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or who is a protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).
Relevant portion of 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3):
[A protected person] is an alien who is lawfully admitted for permanent residence, is granted the status of an alien lawfully admitted for temporary residence under section 1160(a) or 1255a(a)(1) of this title, is admitted as a refugee under section 1157 of this title, or is granted asylum under section 1158 of this title;
It's easy to misinterpret the law because it states you can only hire U.S. Persons without requiring approval. And naturally people would assume U.S. Persons means citizens. But the term also includes permanent residents, asylees, and refugees.
So SpaceX can't hire immigrants on a temporary visa without a lot of effort. But refugees and asylees are explicitly allowed to work at such companies.
EDIT: see reply about why this isn’t true and I was wrong.
This is really stupid. The government puts all kinds of restrictions on SpaceX about having to have only US citizens work on rockets, which is their whole business, and is now suing them for only hiring US citizens. Don’t get me wrong, discrimination is wrong, but this is legally required descrimination from the same group mad about the discrimination
In job postings and public statements over several years, SpaceX wrongly claimed that under federal regulations known as “export control laws,” SpaceX could hire only U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, sometimes referred to as “green card holders.” Export control laws impose no such hiring restrictions. Moreover, asylees’ and refugees’ permission to live and work in the United States does not expire, and they stand on equal footing with U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents under export control laws. Under these laws, companies like SpaceX can hire asylees and refugees for the same positions they would hire U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. And once hired, asylees and refugees can access export-controlled information and materials without additional government approval, just like U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
Moreover, asylees’ and refugees’ permission to live and work in the United States does not expire, and they stand on equal footing with U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents under export control laws.
Plus, it makes no sense. Voting (in person or by mail) is based on your signature, you really think someone intent on stealing my vote could fake my signature but not come up with my drivers license number?
I’m sure the taxpayers of TX are happy that their money is going to legal defense in lawsuits that end up overturning unconstitutional laws that passed by some of the same people that get paid to defend (and lose) in the courts.
When attorneys for the state write laws that are found unconstitutional they should have their pay revoked.
justice.gov
Hot