In a surprising turn of events, President-elect Donald Trump has thrown his support behind Elon Musk in the ongoing debate over the H-1B visa program. This alignment comes after Trump previously sought to limit the use of these visas during his first presidency.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to social media late Friday to publicly defend the H-1B visa program for foreign tech workers, vowing to \"go to war\" to protect it. Trump's announcement on Saturday, as reported by The New York Post, reinforces Musk's stance, stating, \"I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program.\"
The H-1B visa program, which allows U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, has been a contentious topic among policymakers and business leaders alike. Under Trump's administration, there were significant restrictions placed on the program, aimed at reducing the influx of foreign labor in certain sectors.
Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has a personal stake in the H-1B program, having previously held one himself. Tesla alone secured 724 H-1B visas this year, highlighting the program's importance to the tech industry's growth and innovation.
The recent support from both Trump and Musk was partly triggered by criticisms from far-right activists who opposed Trump's appointment of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-American venture capitalist, as an adviser on artificial intelligence. These activists feared Krishnan's influence would steer immigration policies away from restrictive measures.
Elon Musk's defense of the H-1B program is part of a broader dialogue within the tech industry, which relies heavily on skilled immigrants to drive innovation and maintain competitiveness in global markets. \"Big tech oligarchs\" like Steve Bannon have criticized the program, equating immigration with a threat to Western civilization, a stance that Musk and others vigorously oppose.
Trump's renewed support for the H-1B visa program suggests a complex stance on immigration, balancing his administration's hardline policies with the practical needs of the tech sector. As the debate continues, the future of skilled immigration in the United States remains a pivotal issue for both policymakers and the global tech community.
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Trump sides with Elon Musk in H-1B visa program, triggering debate
cgtn.com
