Elon Musk Backs H-1B Program, Calls for Reform Against System Misuse During an Interview with Zerodha Co-Founder

Advertisment

Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in a recent interview on ‘People by WTF’ with Zerodha Co-Founder Nikhil Kamath, shared his views on US immigration policies and the H-1B visa. He specifically noted that America's technology has greatly benefited from Indian talent. He also went on to condemn the massive illegal immigration that occurred during Joe Biden’s presidency, but also advocated for his H-1B program rules. 

H-1B Visa System: Misuse vs. Abolition

The H-1B visa program is meant for US companies to hire specialized foreign workers. However, this system faces significant controversy and criticism regarding its current form. Conservative think tanks like the Heritage Foundation argue that the program is plagued by fraud, nepotism, and corruption at every stage. 

They allege that this system has become a significant cause of threat to the local workers in America, as some companies deliberately hire workers from other countries who are willing to work for lower wages than American citizens.

Advertisment

Elon Musk also acknowledged this problem and said that some outsourcing companies have "gamed the system" on the H-1B front. He said this "gaming" must stop and advocated for reforms rather than abolition. Musk warned that discarding the H-1B program completely would be "very bad." The debate is about fixing the misuse versus eliminating the whole system.

The Scarcity of Talent and US Economic Growth

Elon Musk praised the contributions of Indian talent to the United States economy by emphasizing the positive impact they left across various sectors, especially in technology. Musk claimed that highly skilled immigrants are filling talent gaps rather than taking jobs from locals. He also noted that, as far as the local employees are concerned, there is always a scarcity of talented individuals.

Musk mentioned the US has "benefited immensely from talented Indians" who work at companies like Tesla and SpaceX. He asserted that his companies prioritize finding the most talented people globally over cost-cutting. Tesla’s CEO believes that skilled immigration can support the economic growth of the United States. Many experts also agree that talent shortages impact productivity, innovation, and overall economic expansion.

Advertisment

Elon Musk strongly believes that the contribution of talented Indians to the technological progress of America is immense. He also backs the H-1B visa, claiming that the US lacks skilled employees.