'Donald Trump will fix this': Elon Musk responds to Perplexity CEO's green card woes

Elon Musk weighed in on the conversation, describing the immigration system as an 'upside-down system'.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, publicly criticised the US immigration system in response to a post by Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI. Srinivas, originally from India, disclosed on X (formerly Twitter) that he has been waiting three years for a US green card, sparking further dialogue on the complexities of legal immigration in the United States.

Srinivas, an IIT-Madras alumnus and former researcher at OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind, voiced frustrations shared by many highly skilled immigrants. “I have been waiting for my green card for Elon Musk responds to Perplexity CEO's green card woes">like the last three years. Still haven’t gotten it. People mostly have no idea when they talk about immigration,” he wrote, responding to Rohit Krishnan's post discussing immigration challenges.

Musk weighed in on the conversation, describing the immigration system as an “upside-down system,” which, he argued, discourages highly talented individuals while allowing unauthorised immigration. “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,” Musk posted. “Why is easier to get in illegally as a murderer than legally as a Nobel Laureate? @realDonaldTrump and DOGE will fix this.”

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 easier to get in illegally as a murderer than legally as a Nobel Laureate?@realDonaldTrump & DOGE will fix this. https://t.co/RgMGWeyX1X
Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 31, 2024

Musk’s reference to “DOGE” was a nod to the “Department of Government Efficiency,” a potential government agency suggested in August by an X user. Trump, who has hinted at appointing Musk to a cabinet role if he returns to office, reacted favourably to the idea, aligning with Musk’s call for streamlined governmental functions.

The debate highlighted longstanding criticisms of the US visa system, often characterised as a significant barrier for highly skilled professionals in tech and other fields. Srinivas, co-founder of Perplexity AI, an AI company he launched in 2022, embodies the challenges faced by accomplished foreign nationals who contribute to the US economy yet endure prolonged waits for residency status.

In his years before establishing Perplexity AI, Srinivas contributed extensively to research at high-profile companies like OpenAI, where he began as a research intern under Sam Altman, before serving as a scientist.