Elon Musk responds to Indian CEO’s green card wait, calling it “upside down” in response to a post by Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas, who shared his lengthy struggle to secure a green card. Musk, highlighting obstacles for highly skilled immigrants, asserted that Donald Trump would reform the system if elected in 2024.
“We have an upside-down system that makes it hard for highly talented people to come to America legally, but trivial for criminals to come here illegally. Why is it easier to get in illegally as a murderer than legally as a Nobel Laureate?” Musk tweeted, intensifying his stance against what he sees as a flawed immigration approach under the current administration.
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, posted about his protracted wait for a green card, expressing frustration over a three-year delay and describing how the complexities of the process are often misunderstood. His post quickly gained traction, along with similar remarks from Rohit Krishnan, Chief Product Officer of Bodo.ai, who recounted his own difficulties as a repeat immigrant to the U.S., saying it was the hardest country to navigate for legal residency.
Srinivas’s experience resonated with many online, triggering over a million views on each post. Some users sympathized with the challenges, noting that highly skilled individuals contribute substantially to the U.S. economy yet face bureaucratic hurdles. Others pointed out the irony of Srinivas, whose AI platform assists with immigration-related queries, encountering such difficulties himself.
A Call for Reform Amid Divided Public Opinion
Elon Musk’s recent comments on U.S. immigration policy highlight an ongoing debate over who is allowed to enter and contribute to the American economy. His remarks emphasize the challenges highly skilled professionals face in acquiring green cards, an issue that has seen lengthy delays, procedural roadblocks, and frustration for many qualified individuals. Elon Musk responds to Indian CEO’s green card wait and suggests that Trump could “fix” the current system. Musk’s endorsement of Trump comes as the former president builds his 2024 platform, promising to reverse what he terms “open borders” policies under the Biden administration. Trump’s rhetoric targets undocumented immigration and emphasizes a stringent legal pathway, echoing Musk’s assertion that skilled individuals like Srinivas should not face prolonged waits.
The posts prompted varied responses from X (formerly Twitter) users, with some calling for a simplified process for founders and skilled professionals, and others recalling past anxieties over immigration restrictions during the pandemic. The topic remains contentious as political and public opinion around immigration policy intensifies in the lead-up to the election.
Complexities of Legal Immigration and Talent Retention
Criticizing current policies, Elon Musk responds to Indian CEO’s green card wait, arguing that skilled immigrants face unnecessary delays. The crux of Musk’s critique focuses on the perceived difficulty for highly qualified individuals to legally enter and remain in the U.S., particularly through green cards. Many tech leaders and entrepreneurs share this frustration, as prolonged processing times for green cards often push talented individuals to consider alternative countries or delay their contributions to U.S. industries. In some cases, skilled individuals wait years to gain permanent residency, as demonstrated by the cases of Aravind Srinivas and Rohit Krishnan, both of whom have struggled with lengthy waits despite bringing valuable expertise and economic benefits.
The U.S. economy is heavily dependent on global talent in fields like technology, medicine, and scientific research. A smoother pathway for legal immigration could not only ease the pressure on these sectors but also help sustain U.S. competitiveness. However, current regulations often favor certain immigrants over others. These rules sometimes limit options for immigrants who do not qualify under narrow visa categories, thus making it difficult for the U.S. to attract and retain the best global talent.
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