Elon Musk Defends H-1B Visa Programme: 'Shutting it Down Would Be Very Bad'

Image Source: Internet

In a recent podcast conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Elon Musk weighed in on the US immigration debate, including the contentious H-1B visa programme. Musk acknowledged that the programme has faced criticism, but emphasized that it has been essential in bringing talented Indians to the US, contributing significantly to the country's growth. According to Musk, the focus should be on correcting the programme's abuse rather than scrapping it altogether. He noted that some companies have exploited the system, but argued that shutting down the H-1B programme would be detrimental to the US. Musk also criticized the previous Joe Biden administration's border policies, calling them 'a total free-for-all with no border controls.' He emphasized the importance of effective borders, stating that countries need controls to function. In his view, US political divisions have complicated immigration policy, with the left advocating for open borders and the right perceiving that skilled immigrants are taking jobs from Americans. Musk argued that lax enforcement has led to 'massive amounts of illegal immigration,' creating a 'negative selection effect.' However, he acknowledged that the scarcity of skilled workers is a real issue, citing his own company's struggles in finding enough talented individuals to complete challenging tasks. Musk concluded that allowing more talented people to enter the US would be beneficial, but emphasized that the solution lies in balancing the need for skilled workers with the need for effective border controls.