Overview
- Plaintiffs filed a proposed class action in San Francisco federal court alleging Tesla violated civil rights law by favoring visa holders in hiring and firing.
- Software engineer Scott Taub and HR specialist Sofia Brander say they were denied interviews or told roles were "H1B only" after indicating they did not need sponsorship.
- The complaint claims Tesla prefers H‑1B workers so it can pay lower wages, a practice the filing labels "wage theft."
- The suit cites 2024 figures of roughly 1,355 H‑1B hires alongside more than 6,000 domestic layoffs, the vast majority believed to be U.S. citizens.
- The lawsuit seeks damages for U.S. citizens who were not hired or were terminated, and Tesla has not responded to requests for comment as questions remain about proving systemic bias.