Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has taken a side in the MAGA civil war over H-1B visas.
The Republican lawmaker said there are “big” problems with the H-1B skilled workers visa program, which allows employers to temporarily employ foreign nationals in “specialty occupations or as fashion models of distinguished merit and ability,” according to the Department of Labor.
Those applying for the visa must have at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a specialty subject to qualify, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
"We’ve got some big problems with some of the legal programs we have,” DeSantis said at a press conference Monday. “This H-1B program, the Americans train the H-1B then they fire the Americans and hire the H-1B. How would that even remotely be acceptable?"
DeSantis’s comments come after a contentious back-and-forth on the program among other members of the MAGA movement.
Department of Government Efficiency co-chairs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have come out in support of the program. Ramaswamy has argued that the US does “not produce the best engineers,” while Musk claimed there is “a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent” in America.
However, other staunch allies of Donald Trump, including Laura Loomer and Steven Bannon, have fiercely spoken out against the program.
Loomer slammed Musk for his support of the H-1B program before accusing the X owner of removing her blue checkmark on the platform in retaliation.
“Looks like Elon Musk is going to be silencing me for supporting original Trump immigration policies,” she wrote. “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,” she added. “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.”
Bannon also hit out at the world’s richest man, calling him a “toddler,” and telling him to “bring it” after Musk said he would “fight to my last drop of blood.”
Meanwhile, Trump has sided with Musk and Ramaswamy, who argue the H-1B program fills skill gaps in engineering, science and technology.
“I’ve always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas,” Trump told the New York Post last month. “That’s why we have them.”
“I have many H-1B visas on my properties,” he added. “I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.”
