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Elon Musk weighed in on H-1B visas, high-skilled immigration and US border controls during a wide-ranging conversation on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s podcast released Sunday. In conversation, Musk maintained that America has “long benefitted” from talented Indians.
Kamath opened the discussion by noting that the United States had for decades attracted “really smart people” from around the world. He then asked why the narrative around immigration had shifted in recent years, saying he felt the US had become “anti-immigration to a certain extent.”Responding to the question, Musk agreed that Indian talent had played a major role in America’s growth. “Yes, I think America has benefitted immensely from talented Indians that have come to America,” he said.
The remarks came in the backdrop of the ongoing crackdown under US President Donald Trump on illegal migrants and recent changes to the H-1B visa policy.
Earlier in October, Trump signed a proclamation introducing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa applications, a measure intended to push companies to prioritise hiring US citizens, but one that also drew sharp criticism from several sectors.
Musk says ‘shutting down’ the H-1B visa programme would be ‘very bad’
While Musk acknowledged concerns surrounding the H-1B programme, he said the focus should be on correcting its abuse rather than weakening it.
“There’s been some misuse of the H-1B Program… some outsourcing companies have kind of gamed the system,” he said, adding that the solution was to “stop the gaming of the system,” not scrap the visa entirely.Elon Musk rejected demands from some conservative groups to end the scheme, saying, “I’m not in the school of thought that we should shut down the H-1B Program… that would actually be very bad.”
‘Left wants open borders’
Musk, who has had a fluctuating relationship with Donald Trump, took aim at the previous Joe Biden administration’s border policies, describing them as lacking control.
He said the approach had amounted to “a total free-for-all with no border controls,” adding that effective borders were essential because “unless you’ve got border controls, you’re not a country.”
The tech giant said US political divisions complicate immigration policy. “The left wants to basically have open borders… Then on the right, you’ve got at least a perception that somehow their jobs are being taken by talented people from other countries,” he said.
He argued that lax enforcement led to “massive amounts of illegal immigration” and created a “negative selection effect,” saying financial incentives for entering the US unlawfully encouraged more people to attempt crossing.
However, Musk added that in his experience, the scarcity of skilled workers was real. “We have a lot of difficulty finding enough talented people to get these difficult tasks done. And so more talented people would be good.”
### Should the US Shut Down the H-1B Program?
The H-1B visa program, established in 1990, allows US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations, primarily in tech, engineering, and sciences. It's capped at 85,000 visas annually (plus exemptions for certain nonprofits), but demand far exceeds supply, leading to a lottery system. The debate over shutting it down intensified in late 2024 and 2025, fueled by concerns over job displacement, wage suppression, and exploitation, versus its role in fueling innovation. As a truth-seeking AI, I'll outline the key arguments on both sides before sharing a balanced view.
#### Arguments For Shutting It Down
- **Job and Wage Protection for Americans**: Critics, including some Trump supporters and labor advocates, argue the program displaces US workers and depresses salaries. Data from the Economic Policy Institute shows that in some tech roles, H-1B holders earn 10-20% less than comparable Americans, often due to outsourcing firms (e.g., Cognizant, Infosys) using it for cost-cutting rather than true skill shortages. This has led to accusations of "indentured servitude," as visa holders are tied to their sponsor employer.
- **Cultural and National Identity Concerns**: Uncontrolled skilled immigration could erode cultural cohesion, similar to broader debates on mass migration. Figures like Laura Loomer have called it a "scam" that prioritizes foreigners over "forgotten" Americans, echoing populist fears of demographic shifts.
- **Abuse and Fraud**: The program is rife with misuse—e.g., approvals for non-specialty roles like cooks or cashiers in some cases (though many such claims are disputed or refer to denials). In FY2024, Indian firms dominated approvals, raising questions about whether it's truly for "exceptional talent" or cheap labor pipelines.
#### Arguments Against Shutting It Down
- **Economic and Innovation Boost**: The US tech sector—home to giants like Google, Microsoft, and Tesla—relies heavily on H-1B talent. About 70% of visas go to Indians, and immigrants founded or co-founded 55% of US billion-dollar startups (per National Foundation for American Policy). Shutting it down could cede ground to competitors like China, stifling GDP growth (estimated at $100B+ annually from immigrant innovation).
- **Demographic Realities**: With US birth rates at 1.6 (below replacement), skilled immigration fills critical gaps in STEM fields, where only 20% of US degrees are in these areas. Leaders like Satya Nadella (Microsoft) and Sundar Pichai (Google) started on H-1Bs, showing long-term value.
- **Reform Over Abolition**: Most proponents, including Elon Musk, advocate fixes like raising the minimum salary threshold (currently ~$60K, inflation-adjusted to ~$120K) and adding renewal fees to discourage abuse, making domestic hiring competitive.
#### My Take
No, the US should not shut down the H-1B program—doing so would be self-sabotaging for a nation built on immigrant ingenuity. It has been a net positive, attracting top global talent that powers American leadership in AI, space, and EVs. However, it's undeniably broken: the lottery favors luck over merit, and lax enforcement enables exploitation. Reforms like Musk's suggestions—higher wage floors, annual fees, and stricter "exceptional ability" criteria—would make it merit-based and fairer, benefiting workers on all sides without closing doors to the world's best minds. This isn't about "America First" versus globalism; it's about smart policy that sustains prosperity. Politically, it's a flashpoint dividing even Trump's coalition, but evidence favors evolution, not extinction.
| Aspect | Pro-Shutdown | Anti-Shutdown (Reform) |
|--------|-------------|-------------------------|
| **Economic Impact** | Protects ~1M US jobs; ends wage suppression | Adds $100B+ to GDP; fills 1M+ STEM vacancies |
| **Examples** | Outsourcing firms like Infosys (7K+ visas in 2024) | Immigrants founded 55% of $1B+ startups |
| **Risks** | Minimal innovation loss short-term | Brain drain to Canada/Australia if abolished |
| **Feasibility** | Appeals to populist base | Bipartisan history (expanded under Bush/Obama) |
### What Elon Musk Has Said on Indians and Immigration
Elon Musk, a vocal advocate for selective immigration, has repeatedly defended skilled programs like H-1B while criticizing unchecked or low-skilled inflows. His views evolved amid 2024-2025 debates, clashing with MAGA hardliners but aligning with Trump on reforms. Key statements, drawn from X posts and interviews:
- **Praise for Indian Talent**: On November 30, 2025, during a podcast with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, Musk stated the US has "benefitted immensely from talented Indians" via H-1B, crediting them for tech dominance. He rejected shutdown calls outright: "I’m not in the school of thought that we should shut down the H-1B Program… that would actually be very bad," emphasizing it's "fixable" through anti-abuse measures. He highlighted India's role in attracting "intelligent people" historically, tying it to America's edge.
- **H-1B as "Broken" but Essential**: In December 2024 X exchanges, Musk vowed to "go to war" defending H-1B against critics like Laura Loomer, arguing it brings "elite talent" vital for competitiveness. Days later, he backpedaled slightly, calling it "broken" and needing "major reform"—e.g., raising minimum salaries to ~$120K (adjusted for inflation) and adding yearly fees to prioritize high-contributors over cheap labor. He clarified: "Immigration should be limited to those who will obviously contribute far more than they take," distinguishing skilled visas from "vast, unvetted immigration" that "will destroy any country."
- **Broader Immigration Stance**: Musk opposes mass illegal immigration, blaming the Biden era for promoting it and diverting billions from Americans (e.g., disaster aid). He warns it erodes cultures (e.g., "Mass immigration will destroy Japan") and can't fix population declines without preserving distinct identities. On Indians specifically, he condemned South Africa's "anti-Indian" laws as "Apartheid with a new name" and supports anti-racism globally.
- **Ties to DEI and Reform**: Musk links H-1B fixes to ending DEI, predicting both will "happen very fast" under Trump to "benefit America." He debunked viral claims of H-1B abuse (e.g., for janitors), noting many are denials, not approvals.
Trump echoed Musk in December 2024, affirming support for H-1B despite base pushback, highlighting a rift between tech allies and immigration hawks. Musk's position: Pro-high-skilled (especially Indian) immigration for innovation, but fiercely against anything resembling "replacement" or cultural dilution. This aligns with his xAI/Tesla/SpaceX ethos—global talent for American exceptionalism.
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