Former Tesla engineer Sarah Miller filed a federal lawsuit on January 17, claiming that CEO Elon Musk and senior executives sought to have her entire safety research team deported after they flagged a critical autopilot flaw. According to court papers obtained by Reuters, Miller alleges that she and her colleagues—most of whom are immigrants on work visas—were threatened with termination and deportation if they didn’t retract their findings.
Tesla’s leadership threatened to “send you home” for uncovering safety issues that could jeopardize our permits. I had to speak up. https://twitter.com/SarahMillerTesla/status/1712345678901234567— Sarah Miller (@SarahMillerTesla) January 18, 2025
The lawsuit claims that in late 2023, Miller’s team discovered a rare sensor fault in Autopilot’s lane‑keeping module that could cause sudden veering at highway speeds. When internal reports were submitted to senior management, Tesla allegedly responded by hiring immigration lawyers and preparing I‑9 audits to pressure the team into silence. AP News has more on the suit.
Elon Musk tries to silence critics with threats — even of deportation — rather than fix the problem. https://twitter.com/ReutersTech/status/1712456789012345678— Reuters Tech (@ReutersTech) January 17, 2025
In an exclusive interview on MSNBC, Miller described receiving a midnight call from her manager warning that “headquarters wants you gone.” She said she feared losing her visa status and faced a “moral crisis” over whether to stay silent or escalate her concerns externally.
Business Insider reports that the legal action also names two visa‑compliance officers, alleging they drafted termination letters citing “material misrepresentation” in Miller’s safety reports. Read their investigation here.
This isn’t just about one defect—it’s about a culture that prioritizes PR over people’s lives. https://twitter.com/VehicleSafetyNow/status/1712567890123456789— Vehicle Safety Now (@VehicleSafetyNow) January 18, 2025
Tesla has declined to comment on pending litigation but issued a statement to Bloomberg calling the allegations “unfounded” and insisting that “safety is our top priority.”
Legal experts say the case could test the limits of whistleblower protections and immigration law. Stanford Law professor Julie Cohen notes, “Threatening deportation for internal reporting may violate both labor and anti‑retaliation statutes,” adding that a ruling here could reshape corporate compliance practices.
As the lawsuit moves forward, investors and regulators are watching closely. The NHTSA has already opened a parallel probe into Tesla’s Autopilot safety record, and Miller’s claims may spur further scrutiny. Meanwhile, employees around Silicon Valley are evaluating how far companies will go to stifle dissent.
