As Donald Trump promises to deport millions if re-elected, an uncomfortable spotlight has turned to his wife’s immigration record. Melania Trump’s early career in America—built while technically violating her visa terms—now stands in stark contrast to her husband’s hardline policies.

The former First Lady entered the U.S. on a B1/B2 tourist visa in 1996, which explicitly prohibits employment. Yet she worked extensively as a model during this period before obtaining an H-1B work visa. While common in certain industries, this practice directly contradicts the strict enforcement Trump advocates today.

The hypocrisy became glaring when Melania recently visited a detention center, praising immigration enforcement. Social media erupted with side-by-side comparisons of her past and current rhetoric. “How many single mothers get deported for exactly this?” asked one viral post.

The controversy comes as Trump targets high-profile immigrants and plans new detention facilities. With the Supreme Court enabling stricter citizenship rules, many fear selective enforcement will only worsen. As one commentator noted: “Melania’s story shows America’s immigration system has always been unequal—but now they want to remove the ladder they climbed.”