Tesla CEO Elon Musk criticized the United States for placing a cap on visas in the H-1B category and called for the country to address illegal immigration while increasing legal immigration. Musk highlighted the difficulty faced by legal immigrants in moving to the US, contrasting it with the ease of illegal entry. The H-1B visa allows US employers to hire foreign workers in specialty occupations, with Indian tech professionals being major beneficiaries. Former President Donald Trump implemented restrictions on work visas in 2020. Aaron Levie, CEO at Box, shared a chart showing the number of highly skilled workers seeking employment under the H1B category, expressing concern about the limited number of available slots. Musk responded by calling for an end to illegal immigration and a significant increase in legal immigration. Another chart circulating on social media highlighted the increase in illegal immigration under President Joe Biden’s administration. Musk criticized the current border policy, stating that the numbers demonstrate active facilitation of illegal immigration. The H-1B category currently has an annual limit of 65,000 new visas, with an exemption of 20,000 for beneficiaries with a master’s degree or higher from a US institution. Trump viewed an increase in visas under this category as a threat to American workers’ employment.
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