Elon Musk has voiced his support for the H-1B visa program, asserting its necessity in addressing the shortage of skilled engineers in Silicon Valley. However, his stance has drawn criticism from Senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders, who recently expressed support for a government efficiency initiative, disagrees with Musk’s assessment of the H-1B visa program.
“Elon Musk is wrong,” Sanders said in a post on X
“The main function of the H-1B visa program is not to hire “the best and the brightest,” but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad,” he said, adding that the “cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make.”
Elon Musk bats for skilled immigration
Musk, a South African immigrant and a direct beneficiary of the H-1B visa program, has been defending it on social media.
“The reason I’m in America, along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong, is because of H1B,” Musk said in a recent post.
“I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend,” he added.
He has also argued that the US needs to attract and retain top talent from around the world to maintain its competitive edge in technology and innovation.
“Anyone – of any race, creed or nationality – who came to America and worked like hell to contribute to this country will forever have my respect,” Musk said in a post on X.
“America is the land of freedom and opportunity. Fight with every fiber of your being to keep it that way!” he added.
Musk hit at far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has been attacking him over the issue and then claims that because of her open criticism of the Tesla CEO, X took away his blue-check verification badge and deactivated her subscriptions.
“For those who want America to lose for their own personal gain, I have no respect. Zero,” he said.
