“This is madness!” Elon Musk advocates for immigration reforms in USA, praised by Indians
Elon Musk. Musk has called for reforms for immigrants in the United States, referring to the current immigration system as "insanity."
Tesla and SpaceX CEO, Elon Musk, has ignited a debate by advocating for immigration reform in the United States. Musk referred to the current immigration system as ‘insanity.’ This stance has received both criticism and praise, particularly from the Indian community.
Not all immigrants are the same as those who seek to enable illegal immigration. Musk responded, “Right.”
Amjad Masad, CEO of Replit, responded, “To put it in perspective: it’s akin to an illegal crossing at the southern border for one or two weeks.” Another user, Taylor Hogg, said, “The least hanging fruit in the country to fix the President. Free points.”
Several Indians stuck in the Green Card backlog embraced Musk’s suggestion. “There are millions of legal immigrants who have come and are stuck in the 100+ year Green Card backlog. America is treating its highly skilled legal immigrants in this manner. They won’t even have the right to vote. If this isn’t slavery, then what is?” said Atal Agrawal.
“It’s not just difficult for legal immigrants in the United States, but even for educated and skilled American workers with H-1B visas, staying here is extremely difficult. The struggle to maintain visa status is an ongoing battle and is always tied to the employer, with very little independence,” Anuj posted.
Contribution of foreign workers to the American economy In the semiconductor sector, 40% of highly skilled workers are immigrants, as reported in the 2020 report from the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University. Additionally, international students represent a significant portion of bachelor’s degree students in electrical engineering and computer science programs.
Data from the Institute for Progress reveals that 82% of defense industrial base companies struggle to find qualified STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers. The challenge is compounded by the fact that 50% of advanced STEM degree holders working in the defense industrial base are foreign-born.
Challenges faced by foreign workers in American immigration The contribution of foreign talents stands in stark contrast to the difficulties faced by these workers in obtaining permanent residency in America. The situation is particularly dire for Indian STEM graduates, who often have to wait decades for a Green Card. Due to this prolonged uncertainty, 80% of STEM master’s graduates leave the United States.
Legal immigration in the United States is often complex and involves a series of lengthy processes that create significant barriers for those seeking entry. The American immigration system includes numerous visa categories, each with its own criteria and limitations, including family-based, employment-based, and humanitarian visas. This complexity is exacerbated by annual quotas and country-specific caps, leading to extended waiting periods, especially for high-demand countries.
Additionally, delays in processing applications and backlogs further compound these challenges. Frequent policy changes and political debates surrounding immigration can also intensify these obstacles, altering the landscape unexpectedly. As a result, aspiring immigrants often face uncertainty and extended waiting periods, sometimes spanning several years, before their immigration status is resolved.
