Donald Trump Supports H-1B Visa Program Amidst Immigration Policy Debate

In a surprising turn, US President-elect Donald Trump has voiced his support for the H-1B visa program, which he has frequently used for his properties. Trump described it as a "great program" and stated he has "always" been in favor of it. This marks a shift from his previous stance, where his administration imposed restrictions on H-1B visas due to concerns over "abuse" and "economic strain."

During his first term, Trump criticized the program for allowing companies to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign employees. Restrictions were further tightened in 2020 due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, Trump's recent comments come amidst a divide within his MAGA team, as Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who support expanding the visa program for highly skilled workers, faced backlash from Trump's base.

Musk and Ramaswamy, leaders in Trump's Department of Government Efficiency, have reignited the debate on H-1B visas, highlighting a split over immigration policy as Trump prepares to take office. The debate has intensified with the appointment of Sriram Krishnan as the White House policy adviser on artificial intelligence. Krishnan's support for removing per-country caps for green cards has received mixed reactions, with some Trump supporters backing it for its potential to fill tech workforce gaps, while others see it as conflicting with broader immigration goals.

The H-1B visa debate underscores deeper divides in US immigration policy, particularly regarding skilled immigration and domestic workforce development. With Indian workers making up 72% of H-1B recipients in fiscal year 2023, this issue also affects US-India relations.