Elon Musk is one of illegal immigration’s harshest critics. He once described his past immigration status as a ‘gray area’

Elon Musk is a harsh critic of illegal immigration. His past comments raise questions about his own path.

The world’s richest man stood steps away from the US-Mexico border, adjusting the brim of his black cowboy hat. “As an immigrant to the United States, I am extremely pro-immigrant,” Elon Musk said, “and I believe that we need a greatly expanded legal immigration system, and that we should let anyone in the country who is hardworking and honest and will be a contributor to the United States.” But in the September 2023 video from Eagle Pass, Texas, Musk said limits are needed, too. “By the same token, we should also not be allowing people in the country if they’re breaking the law,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense. The law’s there for a reason.” Since that border visit nearly a year ago, Musk’s critiques of illegal immigration have become a prominent part of his online presence. And he’s an increasingly powerful force shaping and amplifying conversations around the issue — especially since his 2022 takeover of Twitter, now known as X, and given his huge audience on the platform. Immigration is a top topic on voters’ minds heading into the 2024 presidential election, and it was a major focal point of the August 12 conversation Musk hosted on X with former President Donald Trump.