H-1B visa programme useful for bringing competent people into US: Trump
Trump acknowledged the debate surrounding the visa among his supporters but stressed the need for skilled professionals to drive economic growth.
Trump acknowledged the debate surrounding the visa among his supporters but stressed the need for skilled professionals to drive economic growth.
Trump acknowledged the debate surrounding the visa among his supporters but stressed the need for skilled professionals to drive economic growth.
Washington: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed support for the H-1B visa programme, highlighting its importance in bringing "very competent people" into the country. Trump acknowledged the debate surrounding the visa among his supporters but stressed the need for skilled professionals to drive economic growth.
"I like both sides of the argument, but I also like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping others who may not have their qualifications. I don’t want to stop that — and I’m not just talking about engineers, but people at all levels," Trump said during a joint news conference at the White House with Oracle CTO Larry Ellison, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
The president responded to a question on the ongoing debate within his support base regarding the H-1B visa programme. While prominent figures like Elon Musk support it for attracting qualified tech professionals, others argue it displaces American workers.
Trump explained his familiarity with the programme, noting its application across various industries. "I know the programme very well; I’ve used it. From maître d’s and wine experts to high-quality waiters — you’ve got to get the best people. Larry needs engineers, Masa needs engineers, and they need them like nobody’s ever needed them," he said.
He emphasised that allowing skilled workers into the US through the H-1B programme benefits the economy by helping businesses expand, ultimately creating opportunities for all. "We have to let competent, great people come into our country, and we do that through the H-1B programme," Trump added.
US-India discussions on irregular migration
On the same day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed "irregular migration" with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. According to the US State Department, Rubio highlighted the Trump administration’s commitment to addressing immigration concerns and strengthening economic ties with India.
The Indian government has reportedly expressed its readiness to work with the US to identify and repatriate its citizens residing illegally in the country. Bloomberg reported that the two nations have identified approximately 18,000 undocumented Indian migrants in the US.
India has consistently emphasised the movement of skilled professionals as a vital component of its relationship with the US. Indian IT professionals account for a significant share of H-1B visas, receiving about 78% of the 265,777 visas issued in the fiscal year ending September 2023.
The debate over H-1B visas has seen Trump voice his support for the programme, even as some of his supporters oppose it. Tech billionaire Elon Musk has been a staunch advocate, threatening to "go to war" to defend the visa programme’s continuation.
"Secretary Rubio also emphasised the Trump administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration," the State Department said.
India has said the movement of skilled professionals as mutually beneficial, reinforcing its role in strengthening US-India ties amid ongoing discussions on immigration policies.
(With Reuters inputs.)