Why are US Republicans debating the future of H-1B high-skill work visas? Trending Global News

The debate over what shape radical immigration policies would take regarding high-skilled work visas has become the first major policy dispute between key supporters of United States President-elect Donald Trump – just weeks before the Republican’s new presidential term.

On one side are members of Trump’s so-called “Make America Great Again” or MAGA movement, who have called for a freeze on high-skilled H-1B visas as part of the president-elect’s broader pledge to toughen migration and immigration Is. ,

Trump’s campaign promises focused specifically on the US-Mexico border, though he has also imposed other restrictions.

In the other camp are prominent Trump supporters – including tech billionaire Elon Musk – who have defended the visas as necessary for US industrial and economic development.

Here’s what to know.

How did it start?

The latest debate erupted when Laura Loomer, a far-right personality who has had close ties to Trump in the past, took to social media to criticize the president-elect’s selection of an adviser on artificial intelligence, who she argued the US needs more Foreigner required. Skilled workers to remain competitive in technology industries.

The criticism of Loomer, who has been accused of racism and spreading conspiracy theories in the past, was quickly picked up by several high-profile figures in the tech industry.

This also includes SpaceX and Tesla CEO Musk, whom Trump has chosen to lead the Government Efficiency Advisory Board.

In response, Loomer accused tech billionaires of influencing Trump for their own benefit.

“We have to protect President Trump from the technocrats,” Loomer said in a post on X on Dec. 25.

Who gets H-1B visa?

H-1B visas are generally reserved for specialized foreign workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher who have been offered a temporary job in the US at industry-standard wages.

US officials could issue up to 65,000 new H-1B visas a year, with a potential additional 20,000 for people with master’s degrees.

The visas may also be extended when they expire, with more than 309,000 approved to continue employment in fiscal year 2022, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

About 70 percent of H-1B visa recipients are from India and the other 10 percent are from China.

What have Musk and other defenders of H-1B said?

Musk has said that “the number of super talented engineers and super motivated people in the United States is very small” and has described the H-1B program as “crucial for those who want to conquer America.”

In a series of posts on X, which he also owns, Musk promised to further “war on this issue.”

Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who has been selected to serve with Musk on the Government Efficiency Board, has criticized the programs as “badly broken” but does not support removing them entirely, Instead he said visas should be granted on the basis of merit.

Ramaswamy angered a radical anti-immigration faction of Trump supporters after posting on social media on Thursday that he said tech companies hired immigrants because “American culture has long valued mediocrity over excellence.” The status has been respected”.

He wrote, “A culture that celebrates the jock over the prom queen or the valedictorian over the Math Olympiad champion will not produce the best engineers.”

What about Trump?

Trump spoke on this issue for the first time on Saturday.

“I have multiple H-1B visas on my properties,” he told the New York Post. I believe in H-1B.”

“I’ve used it many times,” he said, referring to his real estate ventures. “It’s a great program.”

However, these statements were a departure for the newly elected president.

In the past, he has described visas for American workers as “very poor” and “unfair” and his administration sought to raise barriers to applicants during his first term.

Why does it matter?

The back-and-forth underscores the growing faultline between many of Trump’s early supporters and people like Musk, who only embraced him in the 2024 election campaign. Many of the latter – like Musk – are tied to the tech industry, and are less likely to promote nativist rhetoric.

Infighting could inform the next four years of Trump’s presidency, with Musk already warning of a “MAGA civil war” over the issue.

Many of Trump’s most prominent supporters during his first term have joined in, with strategist Steve Bannon condemning the “Big Tech oligarchs” who support the visas.