Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has publicly criticized Elon Musk‘s defense of the H-1B visa program, reigniting a debate over its impact on the US job market. In a statement released Thursday, Sanders took issue with Musk’s support for the foreign visa system, arguing that it enables companies to hire low-wage foreign workers instead of providing well-paying jobs for Americans.
“Elon Musk is wrong,” Sanders wrote in a post on Musk’s platform, X. “The main function of the H-1B visa program is not to hire ‘the best and the brightest,’ but rather to replace good-paying American jobs with low-wage indentured servants from abroad. The cheaper the labor they hire, the more money the billionaires make.”

This bold assertion drew a sharp response from Anil, an Indian-American cardiologist trained at the Mayo Clinic, who shared his personal experience to counter Sanders’ claims. “Senator, I am a cardiologist trained at Mayo Clinic. Without the H-1B visa, my path to US citizenship would have been impossible,” Anil wrote. “Before hiring me, my employer struggled for over a year to find a qualified, well-trained cardiologist to serve rural Kansas. I’d be happy to meet with you to provide a clearer picture of how the H-1B program supports underserved communities and strengthens our nation.”

Another user wrote, “The H-1B program can indeed be misused, but it’s essential for addressing skill shortages in the US The real issue isn’t the program itself but ensuring fair wages and treatment for all workers.”
Musk, who has long been a vocal supporter of the H-1B program, has argued that there is a shortage of skilled tech workers in the US and that foreign talent is necessary to fill the gaps. He has aligned himself with former President Donald Trump on the issue, with both men advocating for the hiring of individuals from countries like India to boost technological innovation in the US.
Sanders, however, remained critical of Musk’s stance, citing recent layoffs at Tesla as evidence that the reliance on foreign guest workers may be harming American workers. “If there is really a shortage of skilled tech workers in America, why did Tesla lay off over 7,500 American workers this year— including many software developers and engineers at its factory in Austin, Texas—while being approved to employ thousands of H-1B guest workers?” Sanders questioned.
The Vermont senator, known for his progressive views on labor rights, also used the debate to highlight his proposed minimum wage increase, which remains at $7.25 per hour. Sanders argued that the issue of foreign labor should not overshadow the need for higher wages for American workers. “Bottom line,” he wrote, “It should never be cheaper for a corporation to hire a guest worker from overseas than an American worker.”
While Sanders and Musk continue to spar over the future of the H-1B visa program, the debate has also drawn attention to the role of Indian professionals in the US labor force. Many Indian-American workers, especially in the tech and healthcare sectors, rely on the H-1B visa to pursue careers in the US and contribute to the economy.
As the conversation around the H-1B visa intensifies, both sides of the debate remain at odds over the program’s impact on American jobs and wages. For now, the question remains whether the program’s benefits to the US economy and underserved communities outweigh the concerns voiced by critics like Sanders.