Outlook Business Desk
A Rasmussen Reports survey (November 2024) found 60 per cent of Americans believe the U.S. has enough skilled workers for white-collar jobs, opposing H-1B visa expansion. Opposition is strongest among Republicans (72 per cent) and swing voters (63 per cent), with only 26 per cent supporting expansion.
The H-1B program lets U.S. companies hire foreign workers for specialized roles, offering temporary residency and employment, mainly in tech. Critics argue it worsens job scarcity and lowers wages, while supporters say it addresses labor shortages.
The H-1B program has divided MAGA leaders: Tech advocates like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy support expansion to address labor shortages but call for reforms, while opponents like Steve Bannon, Nikki Haley, and Laura Loomer argue it harms American workers.
Musk highlights the H-1B program's importance for meeting workforce needs at companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Tesla, but supports reforms to prevent it from being used as a means for cheap labor.
President-elect Donald Trump has consistently supported the H-1B program, despite implementing restrictions during his first term. He reaffirmed his stance, stating, "I’ve always liked the visas; I’ve always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them."
Tensions among MAGA leaders escalated when Trump nominated Musk and Ramaswamy to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), intensifying criticism from immigration hardliners opposed to H-1B visa expansion.
The debate over expanding the H-1B program continues, with some arguing it addresses labor shortages, while others believe it harms American workers by reducing job opportunities and lowering wages. This polarized issue has broad implications for US immigration policy and labor markets.