Days after vowing to “go to struggle” to defend the H-1B visas, tech billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday mentioned the system, which is used to deliver expert overseas staff to the US, is “damaged” and desires a “main reform”.
Mr Musk and Indian-American tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have not too long ago clashed with supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump over the difficulty of immigration.
Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy, who’re set to be a part of the incoming Trump administration, have backed the H-1B visa program.
Posting on X, the social media website he owns, Mr Musk, who himself migrated from South Africa on an H-1B, mentioned he has “been very clear” that this system is “damaged” and “wants main reform”.
He was responding to a person who mentioned the US must be a vacation spot for the “world’s most elite expertise”, however the H-1B program “is not the way in which to do this”.
Mr Musk mentioned it may be “simply fastened” by elevating the minimal wage considerably and including a yearly value for sustaining the H-1B, making it “materially dearer to rent from abroad than domestically”.
Easily fastened by elevating the minimal wage considerably and including a yearly value for sustaining the H1B, making it materially dearer to rent from abroad than domestically.
I’ve been very clear that this system is damaged and desires main reform.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 29, 2024
Last week, Mr Musk mentioned bringing elite engineering expertise from overseas was “important for America to maintain successful.”
Mr Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, additionally echoed Mr Musk’s sentiments. He argued that the US tradition has lengthy celebrated “mediocrity over excellence”.
“A tradition that celebrates the promenade queen over the mathematics olympiad champ… is not going to produce one of the best engineers,” he posted on X.
Debate Over H-1B Visas
The debate over H-1B visas started after Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer, criticised Donald Trump’s collection of Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on synthetic intelligence coverage in his coming administration.
Ms Loomer, together with far-right figures like Ann Coulter and former Congressman Matt Gaetz, accused Mr Musk and Mr Ramaswamy of undermining American staff.
One viral put up on X accused Mr Krishnan as an “India First” operative whose objective was to “substitute American staff.”
“Looking ahead to the inevitable divorce between President Trump and Big Tech,” Ms Loomer, a MAGA determine recognized for her conspiracy theories, mentioned.
“We have to guard President Trump from the technocrats,” she mentioned.
Mr Musk fired again at his critics and warned of a “MAGA civil struggle.”
He additionally swore at one critic, saying, “I’ll go to struggle on this subject.”
Trump Backs Musk In H-1B Visa Debate
Donald Trump has sided with Elon Musk in a public dispute over using the H-1B visa, saying he totally backs this system for overseas tech staff opposed by a few of his supporters.
Trump, who moved to restrict the visas’ use throughout his first presidency, informed The New York Post on Saturday he was likewise in favour of the visa program.
“I’ve many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I’ve used it many instances. It’s an excellent program,” he was quoted as saying.