After staunchly defending H1-B visa, tech billionaire Elon Musk says system needs major overhaul

Elon Musk, a tech billionaire and an important figure in the upcoming Donald Trump government in the United States, has supported the H-1B visa system despite claiming that the "program is broken and needs major reform."

Temporary work permits known as H-1B visas are given to foreign workers in specialized industries, including technology, health, education, law, and the arts that demand advanced knowledge.

Although software organizations that hire engineers utilize the program extensively, other professional industries also benefit from it.

"Easily fixed by raising the minimum salary significantly and adding a yearly cost for maintaining the H-1B, making it materially more expensive to hire from overseas than domestically," Musk said while offering suggestions for methods to keep the H-1B visas in place.

"I’ve been very clear that the program is broken and needs major reform," he added.

Musk had previously declared that he would "go to war" over the H-1B visa, despite the fact that US President-elect Trump threw his support behind him and his endorsement of visas.

Within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) community, the topic has continued to spark intense discussion.

When Trump named venture entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as a senior policy advisor on artificial intelligence, the uproar intensified.

Far-right activists, such as activist Laura Loomer, have criticized Krishnan, who supports lowering immigration barriers for talented workers, calling his appointment "deeply disturbing."

Vivek Ramaswamy emphasized the need for qualified foreign workers and argued that America's culture should value greatness above mediocrity.

However, critics such as right-wing pundit Mike Cernovich blamed tech executives for excluding American labor by abusing the visa system.

Every year, the US grants 65,000 H-1B visas, plus an extra 20,000 for employees who have advanced degrees from US colleges. More than 700,000 people were in possession of H-1B visas in 2023.

Elon Musk and Steven Mackey, a Trump supporter, got into a heated argument on X (previously Twitter) on the topic of immigration reform and H-1B visas.

The argument started when Mackey posted a video of Musk talking about the drawbacks of conventional schooling, which he called a "mental straightjacket" that stifles creativity.

In reference to the H-1B controversy, Mackey tweeted, "Stop trying to optimize something that shouldn't exist." Let's maximize H1-B," suggesting that the policy has to be reformed.

In a scathing response, Musk defended the H-1B program, saying, "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 H-1B." Take a big step back and F*** YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend."

Mackey later tried to clarify his stance, expressing his respect for Musk while claiming the freedom to differ.

He called for a just conclusion, admitted that there was "extreme abuse" of the H-1B system, and suggested that Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, and the Dogecoin community might add to the reform conversation.

Elon Musk might have just won the largest vote in his favor as the argument becomes more heated.

Even as the controversial topic continued to spark intense discussion within the Democratic Party, Trump threw his support behind Elon Musk and his support of H-1B visas.

Trump, who has previously expressed his opposition to H-1B visas, unexpectedly joined Musk in the current dispute.

"I’ve always liked the visas; I have always been in favor of the visas. That’s why we have them," said Trump in an interview with the New York Post on Dec 29.

Trump continued by highlighting his own involvement with the program, saying, “I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program."

This statement was made at the same time as MAGA hardliners attacked individuals such as Musk, claiming that they were using Trump for his personal benefit by claiming that talented foreign labor was necessary to keep America at the forefront of technology.

This conversation highlights the continuous discussion about immigration laws, especially in the tech sector, where the H-1B visa program is a major concern.

Musk's engagement with Mackey has generated additional conversation regarding the future of US immigration reform, despite his strong support for the importance of qualified foreign workers.