World American man reveals Indian CEO took over a firm, booted out founders, hired Indians. Post goes viral amid H1B visa debate

[Sharma Ji]

'We need smart people in our country': Trump says he hasn't changed his mind on H1B visas

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jan 1, 2025, 11:33 IST

US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance on H-1B visas, emphasizing the need for competent and smart individuals in the country. He denied changing his opinion on the visas and highlighted their importance in bringing skilled workers to the US. Trump aligned with Elon Musk and commented on the necessity for visa holders amidst upcoming job growth.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday stated that he has not changed his stance on H-1B visas, stressing the need for skilled workers in the nation. He made these remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort on New Year's Eve.

When questioned by a reporter about a perceived change in his stance on H-1B visas, Trump responded, "I didn't change my mind on H-1B visas.

I've always felt we have to have the most competent people in our country. We need smart people in our country. We need a lot of people coming in. We're going to have jobs like never before."

Immigration attorney Steven Brown reacted to Trump's stance on X.

“Interesting #H1B news, pleasantly surprised to see from DJT," Brown said.

The H-1B visa program allows highly skilled foreign workers to work in the US. The Biden administration recently announced plans to streamline the application process and address potential misuse by companies.

Trump's evolving views on H-1B

Trump’s past comments on the program, as reported by the Associated Press, described it as “unfair” to American workers and “very bad.” However, Trump reiterated his support for the program in a comment to the New York Post, saying, "`I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That's why we have them."

This recent support aligns Trump with billionaire Elon Musk, who has also defended the program. Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump supporter, has previously criticized the H-1B program, advocating for a system that prioritizes highly skilled individuals, promotes competition, and reduces bureaucracy.

Political analyst on Trump's support for H-1B visas

Trump's support for H-1B visas could create conflict with his base, according to political analyst Craig Agranoff.

He explained this tension to Newsweek. “His support for H1B visas might seem at odds with the broader 'America First' stance that resonates with much of his MAGA base," Agranoff said. "Many within that movement view these visas as competing with American workers for jobs, especially in tech sectors. His position could alienate some staunch supporters who feel strongly about prioritizing domestic labor."

Agranoff also noted Trump’s history of balancing populist rhetoric with pro-business policies.

“It’s also important to note that Trump has always balanced his populist rhetoric with policies that appeal to business interests," he said. "The H1B program is valued by many industries for bringing in skilled labor, and Trump may be trying to maintain support from the business community while framing his stance as pro-growth and beneficial to the U.S. economy. Whether this creates lasting friction with his base will depend on how effectively he communicates the economic benefits of H1B visas in a way that aligns with the MAGA vision.”

'We need smart people in our country': Trump says he hasn't changed his mind on H1B visas - Times of India

US News: US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance on H-1B visas, emphasizing the need for competent and smart individuals in the country. He denie

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Unlike the caravans from South America, Mexico (which also include Indians)

most legal Indians there are high skilled employed people who pay taxes

useless ones get the boot just the same as illegals are deported, riff raff mostly kept out

 

[Bagheera0084]

Why Elon Musk has backpedalled on H-1B visa after MAGA fallout

Days after Elon Musk defended the H-1B visa, he shifted his stance, calling the program "broken" and calling for major reforms, including higher salaries and additional costs to make hiring overseas workers more expensive. What's the change in Musk's position driven by? Is it MAGA-fuelled scepticism, or economic pragmatism, or concerns over US companies exploiting the visa program?

Elon Musk had received support from Donald Trump on his stance on H-1B visas, a day after the tech moghul vowed to "go to war" to defend the programme. (File Image)

India Today World Desk
New Delhi,UPDATED: Dec 31, 2024 15:36 IST
Written By: Sushim Mukul

With MAGA tech-bros squaring off against the MAGA right in a heated brawl over H-1B visas and skilled immigration, President-elect Donald Trump's ally Elon Musk has deftly shifted his stance on the issue. Days after Tesla, X and SpaceX boss Musk said he "will go to war" backing the H-1B visa and asked right-wingers to "take a big step back", he mellowed down, saying the H-1B "program is broken and needs major reform". He also called for "raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically".

What prompted Musk's shift from defending the H-1B visa program? Was it a reaction to MAGA-fuelled scepticism, or a nod to economic pragmatism, or the result of concerns over companies in the US exploiting the program?

H1-B VISAS, A BONE OF CONTENTION BEFORE TRUMP'S RE-INAUGURATION

Leading up to Donald Trump’s inauguration, MAGA saw fierce debates over skilled worker immigration, even as his poll rhetoric targeted people at the opposite end of the spectrum involving low-skilled and illegal immigration.

Hardline Trump supporters argued that H-1B visas replace American workers and threaten Western civilisation. In contrast, others, including Trump himself, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy, defend the program as crucial for attracting skilled foreign talent amid a shortage of engineers in the US.

Despite Trump's backing of the H-1B push, far-right MAGA voices continued targeting tech-bros like Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy. The latter, who is the DOGE co-chair, stirred a controversy by saying that America fostered a culture of mediocrity.

The MAGA fallout unleashed criticism against Indian American leaders like Shri Thanedar and Vivek Ramaswamy, with calls for them to "go back to India." Some critics even weaponised the caste system to target Indian lawmakers.

Indian-American leaders, hailed as the "new Jews" before the Presidential elections, became hate figures for Trump's MAGA base almost overnight.

It was during this debate that Elon Musk pledged to "go to war" to defend the H-1B program. Musk, who himself emigrated from South Africa to the US on an H-1B visa, held that the program was important in fostering innovation and economic growth in the US. Musk called out "hateful racists", warned of a "MAGA civil war", and aggressively responded to H-1B critics online.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has also voiced support for the H-1B program, calling it a "great program", according to a New York Post report.

DATA REVEALS WHY IT'S MUSK WHO HAS HAD TO WALK BACK

Days later, Musk has now softened his position.

He suggested that the H-1B visa system requires substantial reforms. On social media site X, Musk proposed two key changes to it: significantly raising the minimum salary for H-1B visa holders and introducing an annual fee to maintain the visa. According to Musk, these measures would make it "materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically".

Musk now says that immigration would be "fixed to benefit America".

Musk's call for H-1B overhaul, though still supportive of the program, came in as far-right activist Laura Loomer on X put out data and said, "So you are telling me that USD 70,000 per year entry-level jobs are 0.1% level talent?" Criticising Musk, Laura Loomer also alleged that Musk's companies did the same.

Musk had held that the H-1B visa was crucial for the American economy as it helped in recruiting "highly skilled" professionals. Indians, consistently the largest beneficiaries of the H-1B program, accounted for over 72% of approved petitions annually in 2023, according to US government data.

Among the 2023 H-1B recipients from India, 69% of visas went to professionals with salaries below USD 1 lakh per annum, which is less than the average salary of IT professionals in the US. Just 5% of them earned more than USD 1.5 lakh.

The data on a 72% share of Indians and the low earnings of H-1B visa beneficiaries, as flagged by Musk's critics, revealed it was not just the "excellent engineering talent" he said was needed for the Silicon Valley to thrive. It was after these very revelations that Musk had to eat a humble pie on his own platform, X. The fact that the bulk of the H-1B visa beneficiaries earned less or similar to an average American IT professional, was out in the open.

Elon Musk, acknowledging the same, made the tactical retreat, and recaliberated.

Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a final rule to modernise the H-1B visa programme, enabling US companies to fill critical job vacancies more effectively. The updated rule would be effective by January 17, 2025, days before Trump's re-inauguration.

Now, it remains to be seen if the partisan chatter on H-1B will lead to a change in policy as Trump is weeks away from coming back to be the POTUS.

Published By: Sushim Mukul

Published On: Dec 31, 2024

Why Elon Musk has backpedalled on H-1B visa after MAGA fallout

Days after Elon Musk defended the H-1B visa, he shifted his stance, calling the program "broken" and calling for major reforms, including higher salaries and additional costs to make hiring overseas workers more expensive. What's the change in Musk's position driven by? Is it MAGA-fuelled...

www.indiatoday.in

 

[Krishna with Flute]

'We need smart people in our country': Trump says he hasn't changed his mind on H1B visas

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jan 1, 2025, 11:33 IST

US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance on H-1B visas, emphasizing the need for competent and smart individuals in the country. He denied changing his opinion on the visas and highlighted their importance in bringing skilled workers to the US. Trump aligned with Elon Musk and commented on the necessity for visa holders amidst upcoming job growth.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday stated that he has not changed his stance on H-1B visas, stressing the need for skilled workers in the nation. He made these remarks at his Mar-a-Lago resort on New Year's Eve.

When questioned by a reporter about a perceived change in his stance on H-1B visas, Trump responded, "I didn't change my mind on H-1B visas.

I've always felt we have to have the most competent people in our country. We need smart people in our country. We need a lot of people coming in. We're going to have jobs like never before."

Immigration attorney Steven Brown reacted to Trump's stance on X.

“Interesting #H1B news, pleasantly surprised to see from DJT," Brown said.

The H-1B visa program allows highly skilled foreign workers to work in the US. The Biden administration recently announced plans to streamline the application process and address potential misuse by companies.

Trump's evolving views on H-1B

Trump’s past comments on the program, as reported by the Associated Press, described it as “unfair” to American workers and “very bad.” However, Trump reiterated his support for the program in a comment to the New York Post, saying, "`I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That's why we have them."

This recent support aligns Trump with billionaire Elon Musk, who has also defended the program. Vivek Ramaswamy, a Trump supporter, has previously criticized the H-1B program, advocating for a system that prioritizes highly skilled individuals, promotes competition, and reduces bureaucracy.

Political analyst on Trump's support for H-1B visas

Trump's support for H-1B visas could create conflict with his base, according to political analyst Craig Agranoff.

He explained this tension to Newsweek. “His support for H1B visas might seem at odds with the broader 'America First' stance that resonates with much of his MAGA base," Agranoff said. "Many within that movement view these visas as competing with American workers for jobs, especially in tech sectors. His position could alienate some staunch supporters who feel strongly about prioritizing domestic labor."

Agranoff also noted Trump’s history of balancing populist rhetoric with pro-business policies.

“It’s also important to note that Trump has always balanced his populist rhetoric with policies that appeal to business interests," he said. "The H1B program is valued by many industries for bringing in skilled labor, and Trump may be trying to maintain support from the business community while framing his stance as pro-growth and beneficial to the U.S. economy. Whether this creates lasting friction with his base will depend on how effectively he communicates the economic benefits of H1B visas in a way that aligns with the MAGA vision.”

'We need smart people in our country': Trump says he hasn't changed his mind on H1B visas - Times of India

US News: US President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his stance on H-1B visas, emphasizing the need for competent and smart individuals in the country. He denie

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Out of total H1B issued, Indians get about 72% H1B and Chinese get 11 to 12%.. Rest is shared by others. US corporates want more Indians and that is why they want more H1B without any country specific cealing so that they can recruit more Indians.

 

[Vsdoc]

Donald and Elon have done to the MAGA crows what Modi Shah did to India's Hindus.

@Guru Dutt @Krishna with Flute

Delicious irony.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Not possible. I know you're joking, Often times - US companies are run by incompetent and semi-educated local Gora and other American staff full of themselves. IIT and IIM staff in the C-suite are a thousand times more competent than them. My Indian IIT/IIM graduate friends are all part of the C-suite in various local companies.

But yes - I have heard that complaint from Goras, that Indian senior managers often hire only other Indians because they are cheap to get and maybe the perception is that they are easier to manage. Especially Telugu speaker managers will not even hire other Indians if they don't speak Telugu.

It is our failure as South Asians to have those values - betray the whole DEI philosophy which let us in the door in the first place.

Whatever Gora management will now (emboldened by Trumpers and MAGA legitimization) find it easy to stop hiring Indians (and other South Asians because we look alike).

This dissatisfaction has been brewing for over two decades and Indian C suite have not addressed it by equal HR policies.

If you are boss, it is your duty to deliver performance. You need best result oriented people who can deliver performance. Job is not a charity where you distribut offering among beneficiaries.

 

[Krishna with Flute]

Donald and Elon have done to the MAGA crows what Modi Shah did to India's Hindus.

@Guru Dutt @Krishna with Flute

Delicious irony.

The issue is that MAGA can not happen without Hindu techies. No Hindus, MAGA is is a sweet dream distanced from realities. Americans is a f**ed up society which has lost the potential to be a great nation. They need more H1B to maintain their left over greatness.

 

[Bilal9]

If you are boss, it is your duty to deliver performance. You need best result oriented people who can deliver performance. Job is not a charity where you distribut offering among beneficiaries.

You are supposing that Indians are best people for the job.

Good luck with that attitude.

See what MAGA people do from now on.

There are reasons why they elected Trump.

And that is not for providing jobs to Indians so they can invade these shores.

 

[Bilal9]

The issue is that MAGA can not happen without Hindu techies. No Hindus, MAGA is is a sweet dream distanced from realities. Americans is a f**ed up society which has lost the potential to be a great nation. They need more H1B to maintain their left over greatness.

It is clear you have hardly ever been to the US and have scarce understanding of this society.

They don't NEED Indians.

That is an Indian construct.

it's like bheekh mangnewalas saying you NEED to provide bheekh to me. Not true.

Sorry if I'm being harsh but it is what it is.

They can get outsourcing from anywhere, They are paying for it.