The White House recently announced a new initiative encouraging Americans to report undocumented immigrants through a 24-hour tip line run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
But instead of targeting migrants, many people used the tip line to report tech billionaire Elon Musk, turning the program into a trending controversy.
What Was Meant to Be a Serious Program Turned into a Joke?
The purpose of the hotline was to support government efforts against illegal immigration. However, soon after the launch, many social media users began calling the hotline and filling out the online form with Musk’s name.
Why? Because of Elon Musk’s past visa issues and his role in layoffs within the Department of Government Efficiency under a Trump-era restructuring. These moves had already made Musk a controversial figure among critics.
A Viral Joke, But With Serious Backlash
The satire site The Halfway Post posted a message that quickly went viral. It read:
“BREAKING: ICE just announced it is pausing the hotline where people can call to report undocumented immigrants because 90% of the calls are from people reporting Elon Musk.”
Though this claim was not confirmed by ICE, it reflected the public’s strong reaction to the policy—and to Musk’s involvement in government affairs.
Musk’s Immigration History Resurfaces
Adding fuel to the fire, reports from The Washington Post in 2024 revealed that Musk might have worked illegally in the U.S. during the 1990s.
Back then, Elon and his brother Kimbal Musk were on student visas but didn’t attend classes regularly. Instead, they focused on launching their startup.
At a 2013 tech conference, Kimbal Musk openly stated that their investors realized they were “illegal immigrants” only after agreeing to fund their company with a $3 million investment. That remark has since resurfaced in social media debates.
Musk’s Take on His Immigration Status
In a 2020 podcast, Elon Musk insisted that he was legally present in the U.S. on a “student-work visa.” However, he admitted there was some “gray area” regarding the kind of work he was allowed to do at the time.
“I was legally there, but I was meant to be doing student work. I was allowed to do work sort of supporting whatever,” Musk explained.
He and Kimbal only became U.S. citizens in 2002.
A Shift in His Views
Interestingly, in recent years, Musk has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration, making public statements in favor of tighter border controls.
This has led critics to label him as hypocritical, especially considering his complicated immigration past.
This clash between his personal history and current political stance is what prompted many to ironically report him on the ICE hotline, drawing national attention and ridicule toward the new tip line initiative.
Final Thoughts
The attempt to turn citizens into informants seems to have backfired—at least in this case. Instead of assisting immigration officials, the hotline became a trending topic of satire, memes, and criticism.
Whether ICE decides to modify or shut down the hotline remains to be seen. But for now, it’s clear that many Americans aren’t taking this policy seriously, and they’re using Elon Musk’s name to make that point loud and clear.
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