Washington (news nation) — President-elect Donald Trump He is aligned with Elon Musk, joint director of the Department of Government Efficiency, and Vivek Ramaswamy, who support work visas.
The focus of the discussion is H-1B programThis allows employers to hire non-Americans as highly skilled foreign workers commonly used in technology, finance, and engineering fields.
The controversy flared after President Trump told the New York Post: I have always believed in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program. ”
But critics argue that H-1B visas cost American workers jobs.
What is an H-1B visa?
The H-1B visa program allows employers to temporarily hire non-Americans for highly skilled jobs.
The visa is valid for three years, but it can be extended. Award recipients must have a bachelor's degree or higher in a field related to their field of expertise.
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency limits the number of new H-1B visas to 85,000 per fiscal year. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 72% of approved petitions in 2023 were from people born in India, 12% from China and 71% from men.
H-1B holders can also apply for a green card during their visa stay.
What do critics say about H-1B visas?
Musk defended the H-1B program, writing about X: “It's because of H1B that I'm in America with so many important people who created SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong.”
Supporters say the H-1B program helps keep the U.S. competitive, while critics say it lowers Americans' wages.
Former presidential candidate Nikki Haley told We must invest in Americans first.”
In response to criticism, Mr. Musk proposed reforms to the H-1B program, including raising minimum wage requirements to deter abuse of low-cost labor.
