Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday described the H-1B visa program as a "total scam," claiming it is mainly Indians who reap financial rewards from it.
In an interview with Fox News, DeSantis dismissed the notion that the H-1B visa program brings the world's best talent. Rather, he claimed, it has become a system for an industry dominated by Indian employees.
When the anchor brought up low-cost labor as one of the reasons foreign workers were being hired, DeSantis mentioned that H-1B visas disproportionately benefit workers from India and characterized it as "indentured servitude" that Indians sometimes take advantage of.
"Too often, folks would say, 'We're taking the best of the best from all over the globe.' The truth is that's not really what H1Bs are. They are overwhelmingly from one country…there's a cottage industry about how all that folks profit from this system," DeSantis said.
Host Laura Ingraham inquired regarding the conflicting opinions on the H-1B matter in President Trump's administration. DeSantis replied, "I think you're correct to say the H-1B, it's become an absolute scam. These corporations game the system. Some of these corporations are firing lots of Americans and then bring in new H-1B employees and are extending current H-1B visas.
He questioned why there needs to be a foreign importation of workers when there are American workers, arguing that companies will train both Americans and H-1B visa holders before turning around and laying off the Americans and replacing them with the foreign workers.
DeSantis also cited artificial intelligence as an example that is sweeping across the U.S., fast-moving to displace younger workers, thus fueling the controversy regarding H-1B visas. He emphasized that the nation is already struggling to secure its young workforce.
The general message during President Trump's time in office was to prioritize American people and he has done that in so many aspects in borders and others, and I believe it should be applied to these visa programs as well," DeSantis said.
His comments follow the U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announcing proposals to overhaul the green card and H-1B visa programs, predicting significant reforms of the existing immigration system.
"I'm working on changing the H1-B program. We're going to reform that program," Lutnick said to Fox News, terming the visa system "terrible," reported HT earlier.
Lutnick also announced plans to substitute the green card with a 'gold card.'
"That's the gold card that's on the way. And that's we're gonna start bringing in the best people to come into this country. It's time for that to shift," he said.
The potential 'gold card' program under President Trump would provide permanent residency to foreign nationals who invest $5 million within the U.S.
Lutnick said that interest in the program is already high, with 250,000 potential applicants waiting and estimated it would bring $1.25 trillion in revenue to the United States.
