The construction of Tesla's factory stood out for its speed, finishing in just one year, unlike the usual seven years for similar projects. A Bloomberg report reveals that the construction involved the participation of undocumented migrants, despite Elon Musk's more recent position in support of Donald Trump's immigration policy.
Cristy, a Honduran migrant, shared her experience working at Tesla's Gigafactory in Texas. She recounted exhausting 12-hour shifts in high temperatures, with labor exploitation by supervisors who denied her water to avoid breaks. Musk had previously expressed support for highly skilled migrants, but his recent actions contrast with that stance.
Elon Musk has been appointed by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, focused on reducing expenses. Under this administration, cuts have been made, including the elimination of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Despite his beginnings as a South African immigrant, Musk has shown a tougher stance towards illegal immigration, arguing that undocumented individuals pose a threat to public safety and the U.S. electoral system. Cristy's situation in the factory highlighted precarious working conditions, lack of ventilation, and retaliation for reporting.
After filing two complaints with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Cristy was fired. Her story evidences tensions between labor practices in companies like Tesla and the defense of immigrant workers' rights.
