The South African-born billionaire and head of multiple major companies, Elon Musk, has frequently expressed his concerns about America’s immigration policies. He has criticized the Biden administration for not adequately securing the southern border and suggested that its policies might be intended to boost undocumented immigrants’ numbers, potentially influencing their support for the Democratic Party in future elections. However, Musk’s remarks should not be seen as a direct endorsement of Trump’s presidential ambitions.
Musk’s Comments on Voting Integrity
Elon Musk has once again captured public attention by suggesting that the 2024 presidential election might be the last one genuinely decided by U.S. citizens. Through his social media platform, X, Musk attributed this to an “influx” of illegal immigrants being permitted to vote. His comments followed the news that House Republicans had passed a bill requiring that citizenship status be recorded in the decennial census, which the White House strongly opposed.
“Unanimous Democrat opposition to requiring citizenship for apportionment of House seats and Presidential electoral college votes says it all,” Musk posted on X. He went on to claim, “The Democratic Party goal is to disenfranchise US citizens by importing as many illegal immigrants as possible. Given the massive influx of illegals from every country on Earth, 2024 will probably be the last election actually decided by US citizens.”
The Equal Representation Act
This legislation, known as the Equal Representation Act, seeks to modify how congressional seats are allocated by mandating the inclusion of citizenship status on the census forms. Presently, the number of congressional seats per state is determined by the total population count, which includes non-citizens. Proponents of the bill, mainly GOP lawmakers, argue that this amendment would ensure that only American citizens are considered in electoral apportionment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson remarked on the bill, saying, “We should not reward states and cities that violate federal immigration laws and maintain sanctuary policies with increased Congressional representation. Common sense dictates that only American citizens should be counted for electoral apportionment, and the Equal Representation Act ensures that.”
The Biden Administration has voiced strong opposition to a contentious bill that would alter the way census data is collected, arguing that it would infringe upon the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which mandates that the census accurately counts the “whole number of persons” in each state.
The administration’s stance is clear: “The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring that the census remains as accurate as possible and free from political interference, and to upholding the longstanding principle of equal representation enshrined in our Constitution, census statutes, and historical tradition,” according to an official White House statement.
Musk’s Criticism Amid Broader Immigration Debate
Elon Musk, despite having supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election, has frequently criticized the President’s handling of immigration policies, especially those affecting the U.S.-Mexico border. Nonetheless, Musk has called for a more streamlined and faster legal immigration process, which echoes some of Biden’s objectives.
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Musk’s recent statements seem to resonate more with the Republican perspective, suggesting that immigration in the southwestern U.S. is uncontrolled. This view has fueled legislative initiatives such as the Equal Representation Act.
Demographic Shifts and Voting Rights
Significant demographic changes are occurring within the U.S. electorate. According to Pew Research Center, the proportion of Hispanic eligible voters is poised to reach a new high by 2024, with California hosting a quarter of these voters. Meanwhile, data from the American Immigration Council indicates that the U.S. immigrant population stands at approximately 45.2 million, or about 13% of the total national population, with more than half being naturalized citizens eligible to vote.
The GOP-endorsed bill seeks to exclude non-citizens from population counts for congressional seat allocation and to prevent them from voting. However, the argument that this bill would secure elections has been largely discredited, as non-citizens generally do not have voting rights in most states and local jurisdictions.
Legislative Actions and Broader Debate
Voters in Kentucky, Iowa, Idaho, and Wisconsin will vote in November on changing their state constitutions to ensure only U.S. citizens can vote. This follows similar measures enacted in several states over recent years. Conversely, New York City is contemplating extending voting rights to non-citizens with permanent residency or work permits for local elections, though this would not include undocumented immigrants or the new arrivals mentioned by Musk.
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Musk’s declaration that “The Democratic Party goal is to disenfranchise US citizens by importing as many illegal immigrants as possible,” captures a common Republican concern that increasing immigrant populations might alter political power structures.
As debates over the Equal Representation Act and broader immigration and voting rights issues continue, the discourse is shaping American political conversation, with Musk’s stark prediction about the 2024 election intensifying these discussions. The outcomes of these legislative battles will likely have lasting impacts on the fabric of American democracy, as the nation grapples with these critical issues.
