Washington, Nov 30:
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has strongly defended the H-1B visa programme, asserting that the United States has “benefited immensely” from skilled immigrants, particularly from India. He made these remarks during a conversation with Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on the “WTF is?” podcast released on Sunday.
Musk highlighted that America’s tech and innovation sectors rely heavily on highly skilled workers from India. He noted that companies like his often struggle to fill specialised roles due to a persistent shortage of qualified professionals. “America has been an immense beneficiary of talent from India,” he said, stressing the importance of maintaining the H-1B programme as a pathway for global expertise.
While supporting the programme, Musk also acknowledged its flaws. He criticised certain outsourcing firms for “gaming the system,” urging reforms that target misuse instead of calls to dismantle the visa structure entirely. “I’m absolutely not in the school of thought that we should shut down the H-1B programme,” he said, pushing back against conservative voices seeking tighter restrictions.
Musk also connected the immigration debate to broader policy failures, accusing the previous administration of allowing “a total free for all” that encouraged illegal immigration and created what he called “a negative selection effect.” He emphasised the need for strong border controls, saying, “Unless you’ve got border controls, you’re not a country.”
His comments come at a sensitive moment for the H-1B programme under President Donald Trump’s second term, which has tightened regulations while still acknowledging the vital role of skilled foreign workers. Indians dominate the system, receiving 71 per cent of H-1B approvals in 2024.
Recent measures include a new $100,000 fee on fresh H-1B petitions from September 2025 and a forthcoming DHS proposal to strengthen oversight and reduce misuse. Despite stricter enforcement, Trump has repeatedly stated that America must continue welcoming top global talent to stay competitive.
Musk’s remarks add significant weight to the ongoing debate over balancing immigration control with economic necessity.
