Vivek Ramaswamy, the Indian-origin entrepreneur and former Republican presidential candidate who recently withdrew to support Donald Trump, has proposed a controversial solution to the United States’ immigration challenges. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Ramaswamy stated, “Shut down the entitlement state & you solve most of the immigration problem right there.” He argues that addressing the root cause attracting migrants to the U.S.—the welfare state—requires a candid discussion, which he feels is often avoided due to many native-born Americans being reliant on it themselves.
Elon Musk, the owner of X, responded to Ramaswamy’s tweet, affirming the truth in his assertion. Musk remarked that the social safety net provided by state and federal government payments serves as a strong incentive for individuals living below that standard to immigrate to the U.S. He further emphasized that combined with open borders, this situation would naturally lead to a significant influx of people seeking to enter the country, making it unrealistic to expect any other result.
Ramaswamy, 39, the son of immigrants from southern India, has consistently taken a firm stance on illegal immigration, a topic that has gained heightened emotional resonance in various Western nations. In April, he called for adherence to “the rule of law” and suggested using the military to enhance border security. He has also publicly opposed “birthright citizenship,” which grants citizenship to children born in the U.S. regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
