One X user posted: "SpaceX has hired less than 20 H-1B workers between 2011 and 2024. Less than 20. They hire almost 100% Americans because defense contractors are severely restricted in hiring visa holders. This works. We have people. We have talent. But companies want cheaper labor."
Musk responded: “We must make a clear distinction between companies that need to hire world-class key talent from other countries and those that hire low-cost non-U.S. workers simply to increase profits.
SpaceX has achieved success despite being unable to hire critical world-class talent from other countries due to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). If we can do this, our progress will be faster.
Tesla, which is not subject to ITAR, can progress faster because it can hire world-class talent from other countries in addition to every top talent it can find in the United States. "
In 2023, SpaceX was sued by the U.S. Department of Justice for refusing to hire foreign employees. The U.S. Department of Justice sued SpaceX for discriminating against refugees and asylees in hiring. "From September 2018 to May 2022, SpaceX routinely discouraged asylum seekers and refugees from applying and refused to hire or consider them because of their national origin, in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act."
Musk responded at the time: "SpaceX has been told multiple times that hiring anyone who is not a permanent resident of the United States would violate the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, which would be a criminal offense. We can't even hire Canadian citizens, even though Canada is part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)! This is another example of weaponization by the Department of Justice for political purposes."