As H-1B visa debates continue in the US, Senator Bernie Sanders accused US president-elect Donald Trump ally Elon Musk for hiring cheaper labour in the name of H-1B visa.

“Elon Musk is wrong,” Sanders went on to say, “The main function of the H-1B visa programme is not to hire ‘the best and the brightest’ but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad.”

“The cheaper the labour they hire, the more money the billionaires make,” he accused.

In 2022 and 2023, the top 30 corporations using this program laid off at least 85,000 American workers while they hired over 34,000 new H-1B guest workers, as per Sanders.

There are estimates that as many as 33% of all new Information Technology jobs in America are being filled by guest workers. Further, according to Census Bureau data, there are millions of Americans with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math who are not currently employed in those professions.

To this, an Indian-American cardiologist, Anil replied on X saying, “Without the H11B visa, my path to US citizenship would have been impossible. Before hiring me, my employer struggled for over a year to find a qualified, well-trained cardiologist to serve rural Kansas. I’d be happy to meet with you to provide a clearer picture of how the H-1B programme supports underserved communities and strengthens our nation.”

Another user claiming to be an immigration lawyer replied,  “I could not disagree with you more. Part of the H1B deal is that the sponsoring employer will not undercut American wages. No system is without its flaws but H-1B is an invaluable hiring tool for US employers.”

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