The H-1B visa program, which allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialized occupations, became a contentious issue amongst Republican last week. While I normally don't cover politics much in this newsletter, I know that this particular topic affects many readers (both workers and employers), so I thought I'd provide a quick recap of what's been going on and what changes might occur after Trump takes office.
Quick Background: The H-1B visa program, which was established by the Immigration Act of 1990 and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush, is designed to enable US employers to hire foreign professionals in fields requiring specialized knowledge, such as technology and engineering. While proponents argue that it addresses skill shortages and fosters innovation, critics contend that it can displace American workers and suppress wages. US authorities can issue 65,000 H-1B new visas a year, with a possible extra 20,000 for people with master’s degrees. About 70% of H-1B visa recipients are from India and another 10% are from China.
Here's what happened last week:
- Trump named venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan to a top AI policy post, triggering a racially charged backlash that surfaced Krishnan's earlier comments advocating for green cards for skilled workers.
- The backlash escalated when Vivek Ramaswamy criticized an American culture that “venerated mediocrity over excellence,” and claimed this as one reason for the influx of foreign tech workers.
- Ramaswamy also said that the H-1B visa program “is badly broken & should be replaced with one that focuses on selecting the very best of the best (not a lottery), pro-competitive (no indentured service to one company), and de-bureaucratized.”
- Elon Musk, who co-leads Trumps incoming Department of Government Efficiency with Ramaswamy, responded to a tweet about a shortage of skilled workers in Silicon Valley by saying that “the number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low.” Musk urged people to think “of this like a pro sports team: if you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win.”
- The posts by Musk and Ramaswamy generated even more backlash from MAGA supporters who want a hardline approach to all forms of immigration.
- Laura Loomer criticized Krishnan's appointment, expressing concerns that his views on immigration were contrary to the “America First” agenda. She accused Krishnan of supporting policies that would allow foreigners to “come to the US and take jobs that should be given to American STEM students” and made inflammatory remarks, referring to Indian immigrants as “third-world invaders from India.”
- Elon Musk temporarily suspended Laura Loomer's X account for 12 hours, and took away her verification badge and subscription features.
- At one point, Musk defended his position by tweeting, “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B. Take a big step back and FUCK YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.”
The debate is one, of what could be many, rifts between the Republican Party and the MAGA movement, and the internal conflict may influence future immigration policies and the direction of the H-1B program under the incoming administration.
What are your thoughts on the H-1B program? Should it be expanded? Replaced? Ended entirely? Hit reply and let me know.