David Sacks, US President-elect Donald Trump‘s candidate for White House AI and Crypto Czar, said it’s time to “move ahead as one group” with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, as both advocated for measures prioritising remarkable skill while curbing use of the H-1B immigration system.
Musk and Sacks shared their opinions on improving the system in an effort to address growing worries over the H-1B card program.
Musk, known for his outspoken opinions, replied to a message that said,” America needs to be a place for the world’s most wealthy skills. But the H-1B plan isn’t the way to accomplish that”. The Tesla CEO responded,” Quickly fixed by increasing the minimum wage significantly and adding a yearly charge for maintaining the H1B, making it significantly more expensive to rent from abroad than internally. I’ve made it very clear that the software needs extensive reform.
Baskets, a former PayPal professional, expressed deal with Musk. ” Elon has said that H1B may be overhauled, that it should focus on exceptional skill in high-value places, and that the frauds and low-pay work really end”, Sacks wrote. He continued,” This is not to say there aren’t still variations, but less than it initially appeared,” acknowledging potential variations in their opinions. Day for a united front.
What are H-1B visa?
H-1B permits are temporary job permits issued to foreign professionals in vocational fields such as technology, healthcare, education, regulation, and the arts. The program supports other sectors, despite being widely used by tech companies to hire engineers. Trump suspended the visa during his first term, citing its impact on American jobs, which has been a source of contention. In contrast, the Biden administration streamlined the program to benefit employers.
The controversy
As Trump’s party prepares for his second term, the H-1B visa program, which aims to entice highly qualified foreigners, has become a contentious issue. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two tech figures who support the program, are opposed by it vehemently, causing a rift in Trump’s allies.
Trump’s choice to appoint Indian-American entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as a senior policy advisor for artificial intelligence heightened the discussion. Krishnan, an advocate for loosening immigration restrictions for skilled workers, has faced criticism from far-right figures like activist Laura Loomer, who labeled his appointment “deeply disturbing”.
Divisions in Trump’s inner circle
David Sacks made a strong defense against Sriram Krishnan’s critics, calling the backlash a” cabal” fueled by misinformation and divisive agendas. This entire cabal against Sriram is completely out of control, Sacks wrote on X. There’s no self-serving agenda whatsoever here, nor character flaws. People like Sriram should be honored for leaving so much money on the table to serve the nation. Enough of this nonsense”.
Elon Musk argued that the US has a “dire shortage of extremely talented engineers” and compared it to the NBA’s hiring of foreign athletes. Similarly, Vivek Ramaswamy stressed the importance of valuing excellence over mediocrity, underscoring the need for skilled foreign workers.
However, right-wing commentator Mike Cernovich and other critics have fueled the debate further by accusing tech leaders of stifling the visa system and alienating American workers.
