by Bruce Coffman, the one, the only
He lied about cheaper eggs. He lied about this, that and the other. They were cool with that. But brown people from India taking their jobs? Hell no! That seems to be a bridge too far...
According to an Axios article, linked at the end of this summary, a little MAGA Civil War has put a spotlight on a visa scheme that has become the backbone of the America's highly skilled tech industry. One of FLOTUS Trump's biggest promises was cracking down on immigration and his Silicon Valley supporters, whose businesses depend on attracting foreign workers.
South African billionaire immigrant Elon Musk has become one of Trump's most influential and prominent backers and advisors after buying the presidency for him. Or himself. Musk held the coveted H-1B visa and his businesses rely on attracting the best engineering talent around the world. And, big shocker, has emerged as one of the most vocal defenders of the H-1B visa program.
But other MAGA figures like far-right activist Laura Loomer are enraged, arguing the U.S. should prioritize American workers over foreign ones. Kind of like Trump promised them he would. He didn't say Make India Great Again, which is what Musk intends to do, on our dime.
The brewing conflict among Trump's visciously racist supporters also highlighted the racial tensions in the MAGA tent. Mostly white, working-class voters spurred Trump's political rise nearly a decade ago, while the current MAGA division revolves around the admittance of primarily non-white, highly skilled workers into the U.S.
What is the H-1B visa scheme?
The H-1B visa allows for highly skilled workers in "specialty occupations" to live and work in the U.S. under a "nonimmigrant status."
How does it work?
H-1B applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in a field relevant to their specialty occupation, sponsorship from a prospective employer, who must file a petition with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The employer promises to appropriately pay the foreign worker and that their employment won't negatively impact "similarly employed" U.S. workers. Yeah, right. The workers' stay in the U.S. is conditioned as temporary. The H-1B is not an immigration visa, with a path toward permanent residency. So, they leave their "job," they're gone. Sort of like indentured servants for Elon and his tech bro buddies. Well, exactly like that.
Who gets H-1Bs?
A March report from the Department of Homeland Security found that 72% of H-1B recipients between October 2022 and September 2023 were from India.
The second-most common country of origin was China.
71% of H-1B recipients were men, per the report. Imagine that.
Where does the H-1B program fit in Trump's agenda?
Trump's election "victory" has spurred worries among many immigrants that Trump could again attempt to restrict the H-1B program, NBC News reported. This writer's thoughts are that only "unskilled" Mexican and other "undesirable" (to Ma and Pa MAGA and the tech bros) need to worry about the coming mass deportations. President Musk has to make room for the droves of Indian immigrants he plans to flood America with to serve as sweatshop labor for him and his tech bro boyfriends. Great voting, folks. And lack thereof. Buckle up.
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