Starbucks held on-the-spot interviews to hire refugees in El Cajon Tuesday.
The coffee company said they are committed to helping refugees find work.
Dozens of people from Syria, Somalia and other countries throughout the middle east and Africa came out to interview at the International Rescue Committee office on Main Street.
"I came here from Afghanistan a month ago and I am hoping to be an employee of Starbucks," said Ali Arman, who added he came to San Diego with his family to escape violence.
About 30 Starbucks managers were present at the event to help with hiring. Applicants needed to have work authorization and will go through the same review and background check as other potential employees, according to the company.
Some locals expressed concern on social media over the hiring event, saying it could take away jobs from more qualified candidates.
"If they are pushing to hire refugees they might discriminate against other applicants," said one commenter.
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Starbucks said the goal is to hire 10,000 refugees globally by 2022.
