Trump reaffirms support for H-1B visas, calls skilled immigrants boost economy

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Wednesday reaffirmed his stance to support the H-1B visa program, which allows employers in the US to hire nonimmigrant workers for professional and skilled occupations, stated that the country needs “competent” and “great” individuals to come to the US and that this can be achieved through the H-1B visa program.

Trump addressed the media at The White House emphasized his belief in the importance of attracting skilled individuals to the country, citing the H-1B visa program as a key tool in facilitating this.

He argued that allowing “quality people” to come into the US helps to boost the economy by supporting various industries.

Trump nt also pointed to the diverse range of roles covered by the program, from maitre d’s and wine experts to high-quality waiters, noting that these individuals contribute to the growth of businesses.

“You got to get the best people…We have to have the quality people coming in… By doing that, we’re expanding businesses, and that takes care of everybody… But what I really do feel is that we have to let really competent people, great people, come into our country and we do that through the H-1B,” Trump said.

“I like very competent people coming into our country, even if that involves them training and helping other people that may not have the qualifications they do. But I don’t want to stop. And I’m not just talking about engineers. I’m talking about people at all levels. We want competent people coming into our country. And H-B1, I know the program very well. I use the program. Maitre d’s, wine experts, even waiters, high-quality waiters,” he added.

His remarks highlighted his administration’s focus on attracting top talent from abroad, argued that such individuals not only fill critical positions but also drive business expansion, which benefits the broader workforce.

Trump expressed his support for the H-1B visa programme and acknowledged frequently using it for his own properties, calling it a “great programme,” according to media report.

During Trump’s first term, the administration imposed restrictions on H-1B visas, cited concerns over “abuse” and “economic strain.”

In 2016, Trump condemned the program, describing it as a means for companies to replace American workers with lower-paid foreign employees.

Restrictions tightened in 2020 in response to economic challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.