WP EXCLUSIVE: Elon Musk, enemy of 'open borders,' launched his career working illegally
Source: Washington Post
WP EXCLUSIVE
Elon Musk, enemy of 'open borders,' launched his career working illegally
Investors in Musk's first company worried about "our founder being deported" and gave him a deadline for obtaining a work visa.
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{I'm all out.}
Elon Musk is seen at his desk March 19, 2004, in El Segundo, California. (Paul Harris/Getty Images)
By Maria Sacchetti, Faiz Siddiqui and Nick Miroff
October 26, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. EDT
PALO ALTO, Calif. -- 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.
Musk and his brother, Kimbal, have often described their immigrant journey in romantic terms, as a time of personal austerity, undeterred ambition and a willingness to flout conventions. Musk arrived in Palo Alto in 1995 for a graduate degree program at Stanford University but never enrolled in courses, working instead on his start-up. ... Leaving school left Musk without a legal basis to remain in the United States, according to legal experts.
{snip}
Siddiqui and Miroff reported from Washington.
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{I'm all out}
By Maria Sacchetti
Maria Sacchetti covers immigration for the Washington Post, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the court system. She previously reported for the Boston Globe, where her work led to the release of several immigrants from jail. She lived for several years in Latin America and is fluent in Spanish.follow on X @mariasacchetti
By Faiz Siddiqui
Faiz Siddiqui is a technology reporter with The Washington Post's Business Desk covering companies such as Tesla and Twitter. His area of coverage has also included ride-hailing and the race to build autonomous cars. Prior to that, he covered the D.C. Metro and local transportation scene.follow on X @faizsays
By Nick Miroff
Nick Miroff covers the Department of Homeland Security for The Washington Post, with a focus on immigration enforcement and the southern border. He was a Post foreign correspondent in Latin America from 2010 to 2017, and has been a staff writer since 2006.follow on X @NickMiroff
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/10/26/elon-musk-immigration-status
mpcamb
(2,972 posts)BumRushDaShow
(142,419 posts)(I know that DUers are now mass-dumping their subs to WaPo)
No paywall (gift)
https://wapo.st/4e0PdyI
(it claims no sub is needed but then I have heard from others that despite that declaration of "No subscription required", it required people to sign up for an account anyway)
nitpicked
(793 posts)Requiring people to sign up for an account.
BumRushDaShow
(142,419 posts)after originally mainly requiring a sign-up (for at least some "x" number of free articles).
littlemissmartypants
(25,497 posts)I always check the archives. Usually there's a link there that isn't behind a paywall
https://archive.ph/
Archive Buttons:
All of the paywall removers in one place
Simply enter the URL of the article and click the archive buttons to remove any paywall.
https://www.archivebuttons.com/
❤️pants
BumRushDaShow
(142,419 posts)and got threatened by some DUers for doing so.
littlemissmartypants
(25,497 posts)Whoever those idiots are they must either be bullies or Republican trolls.
Because news flash...
It's perfectly legal to archive a web page.
And...
It's your first amendment right to post them.
So tell those fools to back right the [blankety blanking blank] off!!
Good grief.
First Amendment
The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and also restricting an individuals religious practices. It guarantees freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. It also guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peaceably and to petition their government.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment?origin=serp_auto
❤️pants
UpInArms
(51,806 posts)TFG surrounds himself with illegals
tulipsandroses
(6,221 posts)That showed she was here legally. Its in the same envelope as his taxes, medical records, proof the election was stolen, video of the incident at Arlington, proof that he was in a helicopter with Willie Brown and everything else he promised to show us.
Seinan Sensei
(699 posts)Especially since Wharton Professor William Kelley said, "Donald Trump was the dumbest goddam student I ever had.
Bengus81
(7,373 posts)travelingthrulife
(724 posts)He could take illegal immigrant Melania with him.
Blue for the win
(81 posts)I think the world is well aware this man is complete hypocrite. And the only thing that matters is himself. After Kamala wins it's time for deportation.
Walleye
(35,700 posts)et tu
(1,883 posts)and harris and biden will deal with it.
Walleye
(35,700 posts)et tu
(1,883 posts)when and if needed
Lonestarblue
(11,838 posts)Musk, Peter Thiel, Rupert Murdochall have been and are threats to democratic norms and a future country not controlled by hate.
ancianita
(38,583 posts)During all stages of your naturalization process, but especially the naturalization interview, you must not lie. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) might not detect dishonesty at first. But the agency may file a denaturalization action against you at any time. This includes the period after you gain citizenship.
Examples of offenses include failure to disclose criminal activities or lying about your identity. Failure to disclose any material fact can have severe negative consequences for people seeking U.S. citizenship. It is particularly bad when such a failure involves willful misrepresentation. This also extends to your time as a lawful permanent resident.
If it is found that you lied to a government official at any point in your immigration journey, it could lead to having your citizenship revoked.
The problem is that Elon may evade denaturalization because of the statute of limitations.
Biglinda 52
(87 posts)stop posting the Washington Post.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,972 posts)littlemissmartypants
(25,497 posts)dchill
(40,478 posts)I just can't decide!
4catsmom
(227 posts)because not only would he pay less tax but there is a bountiful supply of immigrants, legal and otherwise, to provide labor for himself, the community in which he lives, and the state. Texas and California (and others) prosper off the backs of cheap and available labor and despite what the residents say, the businesses love it.
dalton99a
(84,299 posts)Lulu KC
(4,244 posts)is WSJ going to turn out to be a helpful entity? Nothing would surprise me.
Martin68
(24,611 posts)Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(115,351 posts)IbogaProject
(3,655 posts)Then deport him once he is convicted. Him and Melania need to be booted out. And other political troublemakers with these stories need to be examined too.