To H-1B or not to H-1B, that is the question. As is well known, and as is well loved by Democrats, there currently is an immigration battle among Republicans. Pitting the forces of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy against those of anti-immigrationist Laura Loomer and political strategist Steve Bannon, the dispute concerns H-1B visas, which are used to bring foreign high-tech workers into the U.S. The issue evokes deep passion, too, and for good reason. Musk himself came to America via an H-1B and declares that bringing new talent into the U.S. is necessary for our continued preeminence. His opponents counter that the program is actually used to replace American-born employees with foreigners who’ll work more cheaply. This is often true, too.
Also true, but rarely discussed despite being the most important issue, is that H-1B doesn’t just separate Americans from jobs. It also separates America from Americanism. That is, there’s a point that Musk, Ramaswamy, and most conservatives miss. (More on this later.)
Yet this battle is also separating MAGA forces from each other. And there is some disappointment as well, with President-elect Donald Trump recently expressing support for the H-1B program. So perspective — Truth, really — is needed.
Passionate Objectivity
Providing background and perspective, commentator Lee Alexander wrote last year (that is, Monday!):
The H-1B visa program allows United States employers to employ foreign skilled workers in specialty occupations. The Immigration Act of 1990 split the H-1 visa into the H-1A (for nurses) and H-1B. The law capped H-1B visas at 65,000 each fiscal year and required employers to submit what is called labor condition applications.
So, what does that have to do with identifying and deporting illegals, as President Trump pledged? Nothing.
What does that have to do with confusing and separating those who support the incoming administration? Everything.
Aside from the fact they are here from foreign countries, there is literally nothing in common between the H-1B program participants and illegal aliens.
Actually, both groups do have something else in common: They both pose a certain danger to the U.S. (Again, more on this later.) Nonetheless, Alexander says it’s time “for dispassionate thought,” and he’s more or less right. Though to be precise, better still is passionate objectivity.
Don’t Cut Off Your Friend’s Head Because He’s Giving You a Headache
Both Musk and Loomer have made some impolitic statements while locking horns. Musk has since moderated his position and tone, and this is wise. Note, too, when pondering the proceeding, that it comes from me, a man who believes all immigration should be ended.
Now, realize that Trump only won his “too big to rig” election because of what some call a “political realignment.” He expanded and diversified the GOP tent profoundly, attracting moderates, Independents, and disaffected Democrats (Musk is one of the latter). This means that, more than ever, there will be disagreements within the MAGA movement. And when they arise we should fight for the Truth passionately — while remembering and applying certain important principles.
First, politics is “the art of the possible,” as Otto von Bismarck put it. While many things would be different were you or I king, we’re not. We must build consensus to get things done in our constitutional Republic. And while settling our disputes, we should be mindful of the old Chinese saying, “Don’t use a hatchet to remove a fly from a friend’s forehead.”
Okay, immigration isn’t exactly a fly. But consider Musk. He has been a friend. He does seem to care about America and, arguably, Trump couldn’t have won the election without him. His purchase of Twitter penetrated the GoogTwitFace phalanx, and his X forum and overall support have been invaluable.
The point is that whether it’s Musk or someone else, don’t let the enemies within mount an effective divide-and-conquer strategy. We must fight for what’s right passionately, but cleanly and honorably — and still emerge as friends with our allies.
H-1B Is a Problem
This said, the H-1B visa program is problematic. Contrary to claims, it doesn’t just fill positions Americans can’t or won’t. Companies such as AT&T and Disney also use it to replace qualified Americans with foreigners willing to work for less. The New American has exposed this repeatedly, such as here, here, and here. Commentator Tucker Carlson has also reported on the H-1B abuse, such as in the two segments below.
Oh, there’s a kicker and salt in the wound, too.
Americans are sometimes forced to train their foreign replacements under threat of severance package loss.
The Deeper Problem
As bad as this is, however, there’s an even more serious issue. That is, the H-1B visa debate (and the immigration debate generally, most often) centers around newcomers’ economic impact. Are they an economic benefit or a liability? Overlooked is that as with a man, a nation does not live on bread alone.
I addressed this in 2023’s “Hidden Marxism: Treating Immigrants Like Robots,” writing:
Do the work skills and ethic newcomers bring with them define them? Are those qualities the most important things they bring to our shores? Since they’re not robots and won’t actually just be cogs in the economy, no. Rather, the most important things they bring are their beliefs.
To further illustrate the economic-being approach’s folly, let’s apply the standard not to (what should be) our national family, but our actual one. If you contemplated taking an outsider into your home, would you consider just economics? Would it only matter that he was going to contribute another $800 monthly to the family budget? Or would you first consider what beliefs and behaviors he’d bring into your home — how he, for instance, would influence your kids?
It’s likewise with the national family, of course. Absorb 10 million Muslim jihadists or 10 million Nazis over time, and it will have some political and social effect whether they’re low-skilled or high-skilled. For either way, their skill at “being American” will be fatally poor.
Not Just Theory
As an example, consider that Indians receive an inordinate number of H-1B visas. This enriches us economically, we hear. Yet while they, of course, aren’t Nazis or jihadists, Indians are also notably left-wing.
In fact, 90 percent of Indian-descent Americans supported Barack Obama. They also voted for Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris by robust margins.
Of course, one remedy that should please both the Musk and Loomer camps is to offer only work visas, with an ironclad stipulation that the recruits must return to their native lands after five years and that citizenship will never be an option.
So the real problem with H-1B, summed up? It doesn’t just import high-tech workers, but also low-info future voters.
