Meanwhile 'Uncle Sam' will also not let SpaceX hire non-citizen PhDs from US universities.<p>Sometimes it feels like various branches of the US government are set up to sabotage each other.
Reaction I: This story is only newsworthy "because SpaceX".<p>Reaction II: The statements by the DoJ ("can't discriminate against") and Elan ("at least a green card to be hired") may both be correct...from their respective PoV's: The DoJ is technically right on the law. Vs. Elan knows that any asylees or refugees he hires will, over time, be 100X the legal and security grief that SpaceX has with green cards and citizens - due to everything from Boarder Patrol harassment to the DoD expecting a 5-inch-thick SpaceX Policy manual on how they'll keep any SpaceX employees who the DoD regards with suspicion away from anything slightly sensitive. With said manual backed up by teams of badge-checking security guards, compliance officers, and lawyers - and all on SpaceX's dime.
Meanwhile:<p><a href="https://www.nasa.gov/careers/working-with-nasa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.nasa.gov/careers/working-with-nasa</a><p><i>Other than extremely rare exceptions, you must be a U.S. citizen in order to work for NASA as a civil service employee.</i>
At this point, I'm not sure if it's Elon trying to turn everything into a conspiracy theory or journalist are playing dumb.<p>This is nothing burger - this is just basic enforcement of some laws, which happen all the time. Just look at the <a href="https://www.justice.gov/news/press-releases" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.justice.gov/news/press-releases</a> website and search "Justice Department Sues". They sue everybody and their mother - that's their job.
As much as I dislike SpaceX's owner, the phrasing here would seem "reasonable" to me.<p>Remember, Space-X can't use the more "normal"/general "you must be legally permitted to work in the US" because not everyone who can work in the US can work at Space-X, because rockets.
Musk's comment:<p>DOJ needs to sue themselves!<p>...<p>I just can’t … roflmao … the irony is too much<p><a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1695484357333631134" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1695484357333631134</a>
DOJ will win. This case looks simple to win. SpaceX will likely get a slap on the wrist, a few million dollar fine, and importantly, change their hiring practices. More exciting would be someone blogging/interviewing after getting a job at SpaceX with this special visa status. I like how barista was one of the jobs used as an example. That seems like a good role for someone who has limited language skills upon arrival as a refugee/asylee. I am sure Starbucks has training manuals in at least 50 different languages!
I know most people on HN heavily lean a certain way but come on, blatant persecution of political enemies.. No matter how you try to rationalise this you know this is wrong.<p>Weaponisation of the judicial branch is what you see in countries we look down on with pity.<p>Hate him all you want, the guy is not a racist or a xenophobe. He would much rather have geniuses from all over the world come work for his company.<p>Even if he set up a very expensive system (probs breaks INA & civil rights) to determine and monitor the legibility of refugees and asylees, he'll still inevitably break ITAR. Most companies that has to follow ITAR does the same thing, this is as cut and dry as it gets when it comes targeted prosecution.
Hm. This is a normal practice for companies that do mostly ITAR work.<p>See also NASA: <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/careers/working-with-nasa" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.nasa.gov/careers/working-with-nasa</a><p>"Other than extremely rare exceptions, you must be a U.S. citizen in order to work for NASA as a civil service employee."<p>You can google up similar examples at other contractors that mostly do ITAR work. When there are exceptions its mostly in the form of alternative facilities in other countries (which usually require you to be a citizen of those countries).
Uh what? How is this a problem? I work for a large telco in a former socialist country, where the telco is still 51% owned by the government. We have projects that require you to be a national citizen, and pass a security check of course.<p>They're building SPACE ROCKETS. I would imagine even tighter security.