Elon Musk, whose net worth recently surged to an astounding $400 billion, started his professional journey decades ago working illegally in the United States while on a student visa.
Fast forward to today, his company Tesla relies heavily on H-1B workers and has emerged as a top-25 employer of H-1B visa holders, according to data from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
In 2019, approximately 580,000 individuals were on H-1B visas in the U.S., with the program being a vital source of skilled foreign talent for companies like Tesla.
The U.S. caps H-1B visas at 65,000 annually, with an additional 20,000 reserved for holders of advanced U.S. degrees.
However, the future of the H-1B program remains uncertain under shifting immigration policies.
Former President Donald Trump, during his term, attempted to impose stricter immigration measures, including an executive order in 2020 suspending the issuance of H-1B visas to protect American jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This move was ultimately blocked, as it exceeded the president's authority.
Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), warned that stricter immigration rules could adversely affect Indian IT professionals and increase costs for Indian IT firms.
During Trump’s first term, his administration implemented restrictive policies, including frequent visa renewal denials, making it difficult for U.S. companies to hire skilled foreign workers.
Now, with Musk being appointed co-chair of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, a potential conflict of interest could arise. Tesla, which had 1,787 H-1B visas approved this year, may advocate for a more open approach to skilled immigration. Musk’s role could place him at odds with hardline immigration policies.
Musk’s own history adds an ironic twist: the self-proclaimed “Technoking” worked illegally on a student visa when he first began his tech career in the U.S. His trajectory exemplifies the value that foreign talent can bring to the American economy.
Further complicating the debate is David Sacks, another tech executive aligned with the Trump administration, who has previously expressed support for expanding the H-1B program.
On the All-In podcast, co-hosted by Sacks and other tech entrepreneurs, a conversation with Trump revealed their shared interest in skilled immigration.
Tech investor Jason Calacanis asked Trump about expanding H-1B visas, emphasizing the need for high-skilled workers.
Trump agreed during the discussion, stating, “I do promise, but I happen to agree. Otherwise, I wouldn’t promise.”
However, Trump's campaign later walked back on this stance, stating that only "the most skilled graduates who can make significant contributions to America" would be allowed to stay, following "the most aggressive vetting process."
As Musk and Sacks join the administration, their influence on the future of H-1B visas will be closely watched.
Whether they can advocate for a more favorable policy or clash with restrictive immigration views remains to be seen, but their presence undoubtedly adds a new dimension to this contentious debate.