From at least September 2018 to May of last year, SpaceX discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying for jobs, and refused to hire them or consider their applications, the Justice Department said Thursday. The company wrongly claimed that federal export-control laws meant that it could only hire U.S. citizens and permanent residents, the agency said.

A spokesman for SpaceX didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. In a previous court filing related to the Justice Department’s investigation, the company denied that it makes hiring decisions based on applicants’ immigration status.

“Consistent with its published antidiscrimination policy, SpaceX cannot afford to artificially limit the talent pool from which it hires by discriminating against anyone on the basis of their citizenship,” attorneys representing SpaceX said in a 2021 filing.

[But you know who can? NASA! You know — SpaceX’s customer. Also, assuming that SpaceX’s other work for the US government requires some security clearances, the hiring of refugees and asylum seekers would be very problematic. — Ed]

If you go to NASA's official website, it says "other than extremely rare exceptions, you must be a US citizen to work for NASA."

But Biden's DOJ wants to punish SpaceX for not hiring non-citizens?

I'm sure this has nothing at all to do with getting revenge on @elonmusk for… pic.twitter.com/FPwrXal9FX

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 24, 2023