Mint Primer: How H-1B visas got caught in the MAGA debate

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Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. It allows companies to hire foreign workers for specialized roles in the US. America’s tech industry heavily relies on engineers and professionals from countries like India, with over 70% of H-1B visa holders being Indian, highlighting their role in the US tech economy.

Another 12% of these visas go to Chinese nationals. The programme caps H-1B visas at 65,000 per year, with an additional 20,000 for individuals holding a master’s degree from US institutions. This visa addresses the shortage of top-tier talent in the US, particularly in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

Also read | Chart beat: Indian IT firms’ exposure to H-1B visas at a multi-year low The latest debate erupted after Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-origin venture capitalist, was appointed to lead artificial intelligence (AI) policy in Trump’s administration. Krishnan’s call to ease green card restrictions for skilled workers sparked accusations of an ‘India First’ agenda. Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) supporters are urging him to prioritize American workers and tighten immigration restrictions.

While Trump supporters demand a H-1B freeze, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy and billionaire Elon Musk, both immigrants, advocate attracting talent through H-1B visas. Also read | How Indian students can get work visas after studying abroad Skilled foreign workers fill a crucial gap in the US labour market, especially in the STEM fields. The American Immigration Council notes that H-1B workers’ economic contributions may boost job opportunities for native-born workers by expanding those businesses, keeping unemployment rates low in occupations with many H-1B holders.