Visa Status: Divisive

President Donald Trump's backing of the H-1B program for workers in specialty roles has split opinion across party lines. Here, we share two sides of the debate

- by JOHN MAC GHLIONN

PREPARATION Students from the likes of China have an edge over their U.S. counterparts due to different standards of schooling, John Mac Ghlionn believes.

AS DEBATES RAGE OVER THE H-1B visa program—which allows employers to bring in foreign workers with certain skills—the nation finds itself divided on what “America First” truly means.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy champion the expansion of this visa program, claiming it’s essential to filling gaps in tech talent. Critics, however, see this as a betrayal of American workers—a corporate shortcut that prioritizes cheap, imported labor over investing in the country’s own people.

The truth lies somewhere in between. America can embrace global talent without undermining its workforce, but this requires bold reforms. The question is, will it rise to the challenge, or will it let ideological rifts and systemic failures undermine its greatness?

The reality is painfully clear: America’s education system is failing to produce the workforce it needs. This isn’t a matter of intelligence—Indian and Chinese students aren’t born smarter than Americans. Their edge lies in rigorous preparation, while U.S. schools flounder in ideological battles and declining standards.

Tech companies, desperate for skilled labor, have turned to H-1B visas as a crutch. The program, while valuable in theory, is often exploited in practice. Instead of reserving these visas for truly exceptional, specialized talent, many companies use them to import cheaper labor, sidelining qualified Americans in the process.