Tech billionaire Elon Musk, who is a key part of the upcoming Trump government in the United States, has backed the H-1B visa mechanism while stating that the “program is broken and needs major reform”.
H-1B visas are temporary work permits granted to foreign employees in specialized fields requiring advanced knowledge, such as technology, medicine, education, law, and the arts. While heavily used by tech companies hiring engineers, the program also benefits other professional sectors.
Suggesting ways to maintain the H-1B visas, Musk said: “Easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically. I’ve been very clear that the program is broken and needs major reform.”
Earlier Musk said he would “go to war” on the H-1B visa even as US President-elect Donald Trump threw his support behind him and his endorsement of visas. The issue has continued to stir heated debate within the MAGA community.
The divide in Trump’s inner circle
The controversy escalated with Trump’s appointment of venture capitalist Sriram Krishnan as a senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence. Krishnan, an advocate for easing immigration restrictions for skilled workers, has drawn criticism from far-right figures, including activist Laura Loomer, who called his appointment “deeply disturbing.”
Vivek Ramaswamy argued that America’s culture needs to prioritize excellence over mediocrity, emphasizing the necessity of skilled foreign workers. However, critics like right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich accused tech leaders of exploiting the visa system, blaming them for sidelining American workers.
The US issues 65,000 H-1B visas annually, with an additional 20,000 for workers with advanced degrees from US universities. In 2023, over 700,000 individuals held H-1B visas.