Bernie Sanders Sides With MAGA on H-1B Debate

Senator Bernie Sanders took a rare stance alongside MAGA in opposing Elon Musk’s stance on H-1B visas in a statement on Thursday. Newsweek reached out to Musk via SpaceX and Tesla for comment. Why It Matters The statement from Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, shows a rare place of agreement between progressive Democrats and the populist right on a key immigration issue, where the two sides often face deep divisions. His remarks come after a MAGA civil war erupted over the issue last week. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, two supporters of Donald Trump tapped by the president-elect to lead the Department of Government Efficiency when he returns to the White House this month, sparked the ire of some of Trump’s supporters by voicing support for H-1B visas. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks in Concord, New Hampshire, on October 22, 2024. Sanders, a Vermont independent, sided against Elon Musk in his battle with MAGA over H-1B visas. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks in Concord, New Hampshire, on October 22, 2024. Sanders, a Vermont independent, sided against Elon Musk in his battle with MAGA over H-1B visas. MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images Musk and other proponents of the program say it allows the United States to attract foreign workers who will contribute to American innovation and the economy. Critics, including Sanders and some Republicans, say the program is being abused to allow businesses to hire cheap foreign labor instead of qualified American workers. What To Know Sanders released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) Thursday afternoon criticizing Musk’s perspective on the visa program. “The main function of the H-1B visa program and other guest worker initiatives is not to hire ‘the best and the brightest,’ but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad,” Sanders wrote. “The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make.” He agreed that the program should be used as a “short-term and temporary approach” to solve real labor shortages but warned the U.S. should prioritize funding scholarships, apprenticeships and job training opportunities for Americans to make sure the country has the “best educated workforce in the world.” He also called on a minimum wage increase for guest workers and allow them to easily switch jobs, as well as ensure corporations are required to “aggressively” recruit U.S. workers before hiring from other countries. “Bottom line. It should never be cheaper for a corporation to hire a guest worker from overseas than an American worker,” Sanders wrote. What People Are Saying Elon Musk, in a December 27 post on X: “The reason I’m in America along with so many critical people who built SpaceX, Tesla, and hundreds of other companies that made America strong is because of H1B … I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, previously told Newsweek: “America is a magnet for the world’s brightest talent. To compete with China, we want to attract the best engineers and technologists. But the H-1B program has been abused. That’s why I have been co-leading the bipartisan H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act to make sure American workers are never replaced and that H-1B workers aren’t paid below market wages that hurts the compensation of American employees.” Laura Loomer, a conservative commentator, on X: “I have always been America First and a die hard supporter of President Trump and I believe that promises made should be promises kept. Donald Trump promised to remove the H1B visa program and I support his policy. Now, as one of Trump’s biggest supporters, I’m having my free speech silenced by a tech billionaire for simply questioning the tech oligarchy.” What Happens Next The debate over H-1B visas and other immigration topics will be among the top priorities for Trump, who rode a wave of outrage over immigration to victory in the presidential race against Vice President Kamala Harris last year. The debate over H-1B visas may also play a role in determining how the Republican Party approaches the issue. It will also be a question for Democrats, as some in the party have argued it must reshape its approach to immigration issues following Harris’ defeat.