Musk, Critic of Open Borders, Worked Illegally When Founding First Company

[iluvatar5150]

https://wapo.st/4e0PdyI

Long before he became one of Donald Trump’s biggest donors and campaign surrogates, South African-born Elon Musk worked illegally in the United States as he launched his entrepreneurial career after ditching a graduate studies program in California, according to former business associates, court records and company documents obtained by The Washington Post.


Musk in recent months has amplified the Republican presidential candidate’s claims that “open borders” and undocumented immigrants are destroying America, broadcasting those views to more than 200 million followers on the site formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022 and later renamed X.


What Musk has not publicly disclosed is that he did not have the legal right to work while building the company that became Zip2, which sold for about $300 million in 1999. It was Musk’s steppingstone to Tesla and the other ventures that have made him the world’s wealthiest person — and arguably America’s most successful immigrant.​

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

https://wapo.st/4e0PdyI

Long before he became one of Donald Trump’s biggest donors and campaign surrogates, South African-born Elon Musk worked illegally in the United States as he launched his entrepreneurial career after ditching a graduate studies program in California, according to former business associates, court records and company documents obtained by The Washington Post.
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​

Musk in recent months has amplified the Republican presidential candidate’s claims that “open borders” and undocumented immigrants are destroying America, broadcasting those views to more than 200 million followers on the site formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022 and later renamed X.
​

​

What Musk has not publicly disclosed is that he did not have the legal right to work while building the company that became Zip2, which sold for about $300 million in 1999. It was Musk’s steppingstone to Tesla and the other ventures that have made him the world’s wealthiest person — and arguably America’s most successful immigrant.​

Paywall, but he was pursuing work visa (the title says) after what, overstaying a visitor's or student visa? This is nothing.

Not to mention I doubt he transgressed the borders and was released into the country with millions of others, including half a million criminals who were not vetted.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Paywall,

Huh, I tried to use the gift link.

...oh, I guess you have to make an account to use the gift link. Thanks, Bezos.

but he was pursuing work visa (the title says) after what, overstaying a visitor's or student visa? This is nothing.

He was here on a student visa, which has strict rules about being in school and working. He dropped out of school and started working, in violation of the terms of his visa.

Not to mention I doubt he transgressed the borders and was released into the country with millions of others, including half a million criminals who were not vetted.

Is it okay to enter the country fraudulently for one set of reasons, but not others?

 

[wing2000]

....well, well. Elon has something in common with Melania.

The both worked without permssion.

AP: Melania Trump was an undocumented working model in '96

The Republican nominee's wife was paid for 10 modeling gigs before she could legally work in the U.S., AP reports.

www.usatoday.com

 

[BCP1928]

https://wapo.st/4e0PdyI

Long before he became one of Donald Trump’s biggest donors and campaign surrogates, South African-born Elon Musk worked illegally in the United States as he launched his entrepreneurial career after ditching a graduate studies program in California, according to former business associates, court records and company documents obtained by The Washington Post.
​

​

Musk in recent months has amplified the Republican presidential candidate’s claims that “open borders” and undocumented immigrants are destroying America, broadcasting those views to more than 200 million followers on the site formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022 and later renamed X.
​

​

What Musk has not publicly disclosed is that he did not have the legal right to work while building the company that became Zip2, which sold for about $300 million in 1999. It was Musk’s steppingstone to Tesla and the other ventures that have made him the world’s wealthiest person — and arguably America’s most successful immigrant.​

He's a rich white guy. No problem.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

I guess I don't fully see the hypocrisy here, as if he's gripe is with open borders and undocumented immigrants, it doesn't sound like those two situations apply to him, do they?

Has he publicly railed against visa overstays? If so, then that would be hypocrisy.

However, it doesn't sound like he snuck in, and he clearly wasn't undocumented, because evidently WaPo found the documents.


BTW, it's super odd that WaPo is running this piece...I've been told by credible sources in another thread earlier today that the reason that WaPo is declining to endorse Harris is because Bezos, Musk, and Trump are all "super best friends" in a 3-way love fest, secretly colluding on a super special NASA program, and they feared backlash if they made criticisms.

 

[BCP1928]

I guess I don't fully see the hypocrisy here, as if he's gripe is with open borders and undocumented immigrants, it doesn't sound like those two situations apply to him, do they?

He was just as illegal as anybody who crosses the southern border without papers and more so than those who cross and register as asylum claimants.

 

[ThatRobGuy]

He was just as illegal as anybody who crosses the southern border without papers and more so than those who cross and register as asylum claimants.

Actually, in the eyes of the law, it's not.

Improper entry (via sneaking in) can result in 6 months to 2 years imprisonment + fines

Overstaying a visa (if you overstay by more than 180 days) results a 3 year ban from reentry if you declined to adhere to the "90-day order of removal"

The part that WaPo also noted (that I noticed hadn't been discussed) is that enforcement of such matters was much more lax pre-9/11.

But none the less, he didn't sneak in, and they had documentation of him being here.


Lol, I just gotta ask, where did people think this conversation was going to go? "Musk dropped out of school and worked for a brief period when he wasn't supposed to...see, that means we should let everyone in"? Or was this just a "see Musk is a hypocrite" thing?

 

[BCP1928]

Actually, in the eyes of the law, it's not.

Improper entry (via sneaking in) can result in 6 months to 2 years imprisonment + fines

First offence is six months, same as for a visa overstay.

Overstaying a visa (if you overstay by more than 180 days) results a 3 year ban from reentry if you declined to adhere to the "90-day order of removal"

The part that WaPo also noted (that I noticed hadn't been discussed) is that enforcement of such matters was much more lax pre-9/11.

But none the less, he didn't sneak in, and they had documentation of him being here.


Lol, I just gotta ask, where did people think this conversation was going to go? "Musk dropped out of school and worked for a brief period when he wasn't supposed to...see, that means we should let everyone in"? Or was this just a "see Musk is a hypocrite" thing?

Musk, a hypocrite? Heavens, no. The thing is, the people that Musk (and the rest of the MAGA crowd) are upset about don't fit neatly into either of these categories. That is, asylum seekers and now, Haitian refugees. They don't particularly care about people who actually sneak in for economic reasons. They don't care about visa overstays either (which is why Musk is not really a hypocrite). Close to half the people living here illegally are visa overstays and it's been that way for years without much being done about it.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

Huh, I tried to use the gift link.

...oh, I guess you have to make an account to use the gift link. Thanks, Bezos.



He was here on a student visa, which has strict rules about being in school and working. He dropped out of school and started working, in violation of the terms of his visa.


Is it okay to enter the country fraudulently for one set of reasons, but not others?

He entered the country on a student visa, not "fraudulently". I do not see where he intended fraud, and came with the purpose to pretend he was going to school, but decided to take a job instead. If you have that evidence, let's see it.

Young people are notorious for changing their minds. Overstaying a visa and applying for another is in no way the sort of offense we have seen for the past 3 years.

 

[iluvatar5150]

He entered the country on a student visa, not "fraudulently". I do not see where he intended fraud, and came with the purpose to pretend he was going to school, but decided to take a job instead. If you have that evidence, let's see it.

You’re right, I should have worded that differently. Instead of “enter the country,” I should have said “be present in the country.”

Young people are notorious for changing their minds.

So?

Overstaying a visa and applying for another is in no way the sort of offense we have seen for the past 3 years.

Sure, it’s a different offense, but it’s still illegal. It’s still a violation of the rules that so many on the right profess to hold sacrosanct. Why is this better or more moral than playing loosey goosey with an asylum application?

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

You’re right, I should have worded that differently. Instead of “enter the country,” I should have said “be present in the country.”



So?


Sure, it’s a different offense, but it’s still illegal. It’s still a violation of the rules that so many on the right profess to hold sacrosanct. Why is this better or more moral than playing loosey goosey with an asylum application?

It's the kind of illegal that affected...him. Then he fixed it.

You are equating Elon Musk overstaying his student visa before correction with the MILLIONS who have flooded into the country unvetted, many of whom are dangerous, violent criminals with records.

They are not the same.

 

[Belk]

It's the kind of illegal that affected...him. Then he fixed it.

You are equating Elon Musk overstaying his student visa before correction with the MILLIONS who have flooded into the country unvetted, many of whom are dangerous, violent criminals with records.

They are not the same.

If they are "unvetted" how are you aware of the "...many with dangerous, violent criminals with records"?

 

[Astrid]

https://wapo.st/4e0PdyI

Long before he became one of Donald Trump’s biggest donors and campaign surrogates, South African-born Elon Musk worked illegally in the United States as he launched his entrepreneurial career after ditching a graduate studies program in California, according to former business associates, court records and company documents obtained by The Washington Post.
​

​

Musk in recent months has amplified the Republican presidential candidate’s claims that “open borders” and undocumented immigrants are destroying America, broadcasting those views to more than 200 million followers on the site formerly known as Twitter, which Musk bought in 2022 and later renamed X.
​

​

What Musk has not publicly disclosed is that he did not have the legal right to work while building the company that became Zip2, which sold for about $300 million in 1999. It was Musk’s steppingstone to Tesla and the other ventures that have made him the world’s wealthiest person — and arguably America’s most successful immigrant.​

So?

 

[Astrid]

If they are "unvetted" how are you aware of the "...many with dangerous, violent criminals with records"?

Let them in, wait till they’re caught committing crimes.
Great system!

To learn more try to enter as a legal immigrant.

 

[prodromos]

He didn't get a job, he built a company that eventually sold for over $300 million. Getting a job means you are employed by someone, and if you don't have a work permit it means you are illegally putting someone else out of that job. None of that applied to Musk.

 

[RestoreTheJoy]

If they are "unvetted" how are you aware of the "...many with dangerous, violent criminals with records"?

ICE data. I guess you missed it.


"ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, saying as of July 21, there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on the agency’s non-detained docket (NDD), meaning they are not detained while they await immigration proceedings.

“Of those, 435,719 are convicted criminals, and 226,847 have pending criminal charges,” Lechleitner wrote.

According to Lechleitner, 62,231 noncitizens with criminal convictions for assault currently are not detained by ICE and have been released; 42,915 have pending assault charges. The agency currently is holding 2,348 noncitizens who have been convicted of assault and 1,498 who have pending charges.

The agency also has released 15,811 who have been convicted of sexual assault, 56,533 noncitizens convicted of drug possession, and 2,521 who have been convicted on kidnapping, according to the letter.

MSN

 

[FireDragon76]

Paywall, but he was pursuing work visa (the title says) after what, overstaying a visitor's or student visa? This is nothing.

The vast majority of illegal immigration in the US is caused by overstaying visas, not crossing the Rio Grande. This is not a problem unique to the United States, it happens in any country that has work visa programs.

 

[Belk]

ICE data. I guess you missed it.


"ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, saying as of July 21, there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on the agency’s non-detained docket (NDD), meaning they are not detained while they await immigration proceedings.

“Of those, 435,719 are convicted criminals, and 226,847 have pending criminal charges,” Lechleitner wrote.

According to Lechleitner, 62,231 noncitizens with criminal convictions for assault currently are not detained by ICE and have been released; 42,915 have pending assault charges. The agency currently is holding 2,348 noncitizens who have been convicted of assault and 1,498 who have pending charges.

The agency also has released 15,811 who have been convicted of sexual assault, 56,533 noncitizens convicted of drug possession, and 2,521 who have been convicted on kidnapping, according to the letter.

MSN

Golly! If only they were citizens they could run for president.

But seriously, those are people who are charged here. Your implication seemed to be that they were "violent criminals with records" prior to coming into the country.

 

[Pommer]

“ICE Deputy Director Patrick Lechleitner sent a letter Wednesday to U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, saying as of July 21, there were 662,566 noncitizens with criminal histories on the agency’s non-detained docket (NDD), meaning they are not detained while they await immigration proceedings.

Isn’t escaping an unjust government that has one arrested for trying to voice opposition to the powers-that-be, exactly what asylum is all about?