Elon Musk’s Misguided Views on Immigration and the Census
The Flawed Logic Behind Musk’s Statements
In a recent interview with Don Lemon, Elon Musk expressed his belief that undocumented immigrants are incentivized to come to the United States to vote for the Democratic party. However, as Lemon pointed out, undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants on visas, and green card holders are not eligible to vote. Musk then shifted his argument, claiming that immigrants impact congressional apportionment through the census.
“The House seat apportionment is proportionate to the number of people, not just the number of citizens,” Musk said, adding that immigrants “overwhelmingly go to places like California and New York.”
The Reality of the Immigration System
While it is true that congressional apportionment is based on census population data, Musk’s argument reveals a lack of understanding of the immigration system. The majority of individuals arriving at the border today will not be in the country by the time the next census is conducted in 2030. Upon crossing the border without authorization or requesting asylum, they are given a hearing date in immigration court, often months or years in the future due to the significant backlog of cases.
According to the Congressional Research Service, the average adjudication time for asylum cases is now slightly over four years. However, this is still not long enough for these individuals to be counted in the census. Furthermore, only 9% of cases decided in the 2023 fiscal year resulted in asylum or another form of relief, while the rest ended in deportation.
The Path to Citizenship for Asylees
Even for those granted asylum, the path to voting rights is not immediate. Asylees must wait a year after receiving asylum to apply for green cards, and then an additional five years before applying for citizenship. This lengthy process further undermines Musk’s claim that immigrants are coming to the United States to vote for a particular political party.
The Racist Roots of the Great Replacement Theory
At its core, the great replacement theory is a fundamentally racist and antisemitic conspiracy theory. Its proponents are fixated on birth rates and believe in a global plot to eradicate the white race. The “replacement” they fear is not political, but rather a literal ethnic replacement of white Americans.
Musk has previously engaged with antisemitic posts on X, suggesting that “Jewish populations” are sending “hordes of minorities” to Western countries. This rhetoric echoes the chants of neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the motivations behind the tragic mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.
Musk’s Attempt to Distance Himself from Controversy
In his interview with Lemon, Musk attempted to clarify his statements, explaining that he meant “a prominent number of Jewish philanthropists fund groups that they should really take a closer look at.” He also claimed that quoting something does not necessarily mean he agrees with everything in it.
“If I quote something, it doesn’t mean I agree with everything in it,” Musk said. “It’s just something that — I think this is something people should consider.”
Musk appears to be trying to have it both ways: sending clear great replacement dogwhistles while avoiding accusations of fully subscribing to the theory. He wants X to be seen as a crucial platform for information and free speech when it benefits him, but when faced with criticism, he downplays the significance of his own posts.
4 Comments
Elon Musk’s latest embrace is sparking fires everywhere—how long till it burns out
Elon’s really out here embracing ‘Great Replacement’ theory, huh? Saffron
Elon Musk stirring the pot again? Color me shocked
Looks like Elon’s on another headline-grabbing spree, what’s new