President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed this week that his stance on the H-1B visa program remains unchanged. He emphasized the importance of bringing "smart people" into the U.S., stirring debate among Republicans about the program.
"I didn't change my mind," Trump said at Mar-a-Lago. "We need competent people. We need smart people coming into our country. We're going to have jobs like we've never had before."
The H-1B program allows U.S. companies to hire foreign workers for specialized roles, mainly in tech. While it supports industry needs, critics argue it’s misused to replace American workers with cheaper foreign labor.
Last week, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump’s picks for leading the Department of Government Efficiency, highlighted the program's benefits. Musk credited H-1B for attracting talent vital to SpaceX and Tesla.
"The reason I’m in America, along with so many critical people, is because of H1B," Musk shared on X. This reignited a debate within the right about the program's intent and fairness.
Sen. Eric Schmitt voiced concerns on Fox News, stating the program is "abused." He referenced American workers training their lower-paid foreign replacements, calling it a significant issue.
Trump, during his 2016 campaign, criticized H-1B for displacing U.S. workers. He vowed to end abuses and require companies to prioritize American hires for visa programs.
"The H-1B program is neither high-skilled nor immigration," Trump said in 2016. "I will end forever the use of H-1B as a cheap labor program." He acknowledged his companies’ use of the program, admitting, "I shouldn’t be allowed to use it."
In 2020, his administration proposed reforms to prioritize higher-wage applicants for the 85,000 annual visas. The rule aimed to ensure fair wages and prevent undercutting U.S. salaries.
The Biden administration later abandoned these efforts, proposing its own rule. Still, Trump’s plan had garnered support from immigration hawks who praised its focus on fairness and higher pay.
Despite past criticism, Trump expressed support for the program, calling it "great." "I’ve always liked the visas," he told the New York Post. "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B."