Trump’s Surprising Defence Of H1-B Visa: 'We Need Talent, Not Enough In The US'
In a rare shift of tone, former US President Donald Trump defended the H1-B visa programme, a move that surprised many, especially after his administration imposed a hefty fee hike just weeks earlier. Trump emphasised that America needed to attract talent from abroad to fill critical skill gaps, acknowledging that the domestic workforce alone wasn’t sufficient for certain industries.
Appearing on Fox News, Trump was asked whether his administration’s stance on the H1-B visa might harm American workers by lowering wages.
“I agree, but you do also have to bring in talent,” he replied.
When the interviewer pushed back, saying, “We have plenty of talented workers,” Trump immediately responded, “No, you don’t.”
“You don’t have certain talents. People have to learn. You can’t take people off an unemployment line and say, ‘I’m going to put you into a factory where we’re going to make missiles’,” he added.
Trump’s comments come less than two months after his administration raised the annual fee for the H1-B visa programme to a staggering USD 100,000, a decision that sparked concern among the expat community, particularly Indians, who make up the majority of H1-B holders.
The fee hike was part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at tightening entry rules and ensuring that only “skilled and essential” workers were allowed into the country. Under a September 19 proclamation, H1-B employees, even existing visa holders, could be denied entry unless their employers had paid the new fee.
The White House later clarified that the new fee applied only to fresh applicants, not those currently holding valid visas, easing some of the anxiety within the tech sector and global workforce.
During the interview, Trump also cited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
“They raided because they wanted illegal immigrants out. There were people from South Korea (at the facility) who made batteries all their lives. Making batteries is very complicated. It’s not an easy thing. Very dangerous, a lot of explosions, a lot of problems,” Trump explained.
According to him, the raid disrupted essential operations at the factory. “They had like 500 or 600 people, early stages, to make batteries and to teach people how to do it. Well, they wanted them to get out of the country. You’re going to need that,” he said.
The ICE raid led to over 300 South Korean workers being detained, prompting Seoul to investigate possible human rights violations. South Korean officials also confirmed they had received no prior notice of the operation.
Interestingly, during his recent visit to South Korea, Trump distanced himself from the raid, saying he was “very much opposed” to how it was conducted.
While Trump’s latest remarks may not mark a complete policy reversal, his public defence of the H1-B visa suggests a growing recognition of how global talent fuels innovation and industrial growth in the United States.
Appearing on Fox News, Trump was asked whether his administration’s stance on the H1-B visa might harm American workers by lowering wages.
“I agree, but you do also have to bring in talent,” he replied.
When the interviewer pushed back, saying, “We have plenty of talented workers,” Trump immediately responded, “No, you don’t.”
“You don’t have certain talents. People have to learn. You can’t take people off an unemployment line and say, ‘I’m going to put you into a factory where we’re going to make missiles’,” he added.
Trump’s comments come less than two months after his administration raised the annual fee for the H1-B visa programme to a staggering USD 100,000, a decision that sparked concern among the expat community, particularly Indians, who make up the majority of H1-B holders.
The fee hike was part of a broader immigration crackdown aimed at tightening entry rules and ensuring that only “skilled and essential” workers were allowed into the country. Under a September 19 proclamation, H1-B employees, even existing visa holders, could be denied entry unless their employers had paid the new fee.
The White House later clarified that the new fee applied only to fresh applicants, not those currently holding valid visas, easing some of the anxiety within the tech sector and global workforce.
During the interview, Trump also cited an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raid at a Hyundai plant in Georgia.
“They raided because they wanted illegal immigrants out. There were people from South Korea (at the facility) who made batteries all their lives. Making batteries is very complicated. It’s not an easy thing. Very dangerous, a lot of explosions, a lot of problems,” Trump explained.
According to him, the raid disrupted essential operations at the factory. “They had like 500 or 600 people, early stages, to make batteries and to teach people how to do it. Well, they wanted them to get out of the country. You’re going to need that,” he said.
The ICE raid led to over 300 South Korean workers being detained, prompting Seoul to investigate possible human rights violations. South Korean officials also confirmed they had received no prior notice of the operation.
Interestingly, during his recent visit to South Korea, Trump distanced himself from the raid, saying he was “very much opposed” to how it was conducted.
While Trump’s latest remarks may not mark a complete policy reversal, his public defence of the H1-B visa suggests a growing recognition of how global talent fuels innovation and industrial growth in the United States.
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