Elon Musk's Cowboy Hat Stint At US-Mexico Border Surprised Officials, Reveals Freedom Of Information Act Request

Emails obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request have uncovered that Elon Musk’s unanticipated visit to the U.S.-Mexico border surprised U.S. Border Patrol officials, offering a more comprehensive account of the events that transpired on Sept. 28.

What Happened: Last month, Musk made a surprise visit to the U.S.-Mexico border near Eagle Pass, Texas, accompanied by Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas). The two discussed immigration issues while Musk live-streamed the scene on his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), capturing dozens of detained migrants.

See Also: After Offering $1B Donation With A Condition, Elon Musk Now Highlights’ Fundamental Difference’ Between Wikipedia And X

The surprise visit, as revealed by the recently obtained emails, had caught U.S. Border Patrol officials off guard, reported NBC.  

The documents, redacting Musk’s name but unmistakably referencing the dates of his visit and interactions with Gonzales, unveiled the lack of prior communication or official requests regarding Musk’s presence at the border.

One email from a special operations supervisor on Sept. 27 indicated that the Department of Homeland Security, or DHS, had not received any official requests regarding Musk and Gonzales. 

“DHS [Department of Homeland Security] has not received any official request to accommodate Mr. Gonzales or [redacted] at this time. Please notify DRT [redacted] if any USBP personnel encounter Mr. Gonzales, [redacted] or any other persons that present themselves unannounced,” the email read. 

On the other hand, the Border Patrol’s Office of Public Affairs had been informed that the tech billionaire and Gonzales may appear at the border. However, Musk arrived a day earlier.

It further mentioned that Musk may engage with the U.S. Border Patrol or USBP personnel and advised that he stay on the press side of the area. “He may approach and engage USBP personnel,” the email stated. “He should be asked to remain on the press side of the area.”

The surprise factor persisted on the day of the visit. Border Patrol employees found themselves in a situation where they were unprepared to accommodate the unexpected visitors, including multiple sheriffs from different counties.

Musk’s live-streamed footage from the visit revealed discussions about Border Patrol operations, even though the Border Patrol agents initially declined to appear on camera. 

Musk used the opportunity to convey his views on immigration, emphasizing the need to differentiate between hardworking migrants and those “breaking the law,” the report noted. 

Why It’s Important: The Eagle Pass area has become a focal point for discussions around immigration, particularly among conservatives, due to the surge of migrants crossing through it. 

Musk’s visit brought national attention and generated significant online interest, with over 22 million views on X and making headlines.

Simultaneously, it received criticism from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who targeted her Republican colleague for allegedly abandoning critical House votes in favor of a “joyride” with Tesla CEO.

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This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via MidJourney.