Big Tech and Exploitation
The H-1B Visa Debate
Professional billionaire lapdogs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are having problems this week as they support foreign workers in the tech industry.
Why is this controversial?
Musk and Ramaswamy are slotted to join the Trump administration's upcoming Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.). If this becomes a reality, this department will allow Musk and Ramaswamy to influence government spending and budgeting. Both aforementioned individuals have declared support for H-1B visas, which allow for the import of individuals with higher occupational knowledge (typically bachelor’s degrees or up) from other countries.
Musk is infamous for using H-1B visa workers at his companies including Tesla and Twitter.
Many folks, like conspiracy theorist and racist Laura Loomer, support an ‘America First’ agenda in which immigrants are deported and American jobs magically come from this. Supporting the usage of foreign workers in tech industries takes away jobs from Americans in their view.
This has led Musk and Ramaswamy to double down on their support for H-1B visa workers, blaming American culture and education. Trump weighed in and gave his support for the usage of H-1B visa workers.
I had a few thoughts on this situation that I wanted to share.
Should immigrants take American jobs?
I will first address the anti-immigration stance of ‘America First’ (AF) MAGA ideology. Not only does the anti-immigration rhetoric of AF (and MAGA more generally) have outright fascistic and white supremacist ties but it is also steeped in misunderstanding and ignorance.
The real issue we need to focus on is not a fear of immigrants taking jobs or criticizing American culture, but the exploitation of migrants by corporations.
Service jobs in agriculture and construction can be low-paying and high-risk. This is why these industries often depend on and exploit undocumented migrant workers. Close to half of all agricultural workers in the US are undocumented.
Many important industries already depend on immigrant workers in the United States, this is why some argue that mass deportation would actively hurt the economy. However, this is not to justify the usage and exploitation of migrant workers, but the opposite.
Workers, whether migrants from a Latin American country or from somewhere else should be allowed protections and processes that allow for citizenship especially if they’re working in this country already.
Additionally, H-1B visa workers are not spared exploitation either. Regardless of their educational status and skill level, these workers are essentially indentured servants. They’re servants because they’re often underpaid, it is not a straightforward process for changing employers, and they risk deportation for not securing employment.
Migrant workers, whether at high or low technical skill levels are exploited by US corporations for cheap labor.
Who do we blame?
I think the H-1B debate perfectly exemplifies the competing interests of billionaires and working-class MAGA supporters.
Billionaires and corporations whose primary concern is profit maximization and growth will gladly push for cheaper labor markets and cutbacks on job security. We see this with the outsourcing of American jobs and the continued pullback of workers’ rights in many areas.
Paying workers for the value they produce, giving them rights, and providing essential benefits for their betterment is costly. Why pay American workers when you can hire someone cheaper and provide them with little to no benefits?
While many working-class MAGA supporters and right-wing ‘influencers’ will blame the downfall of America on trans people or immigrants they miss the obvious. Scapegoats of the political right distract you from what is really going on. This obfuscation can and is deliberate, but eventually, people have to see the truth.
Musk, Ramaswamy, and Trump do not care about the working class. They care about their businesses, donors, and shareholders.