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The Debate Over US H-1B Visa: A Case for Non-Skilled Migration
The Economic Contributions of Non-Skilled Migrants in a Debate Dominated by Elite Interests
The ongoing debate in the United States centers around the future of H-1B visas, which facilitate skilled immigration. Advocates like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will run the US Government Efficiency Department under future Trump administration, argue for preserving these visas. Conversely, critics such as Stephen Bannon and Laura Loomer, often associated with the far-right, advocate for abolishing skilled immigration altogether. This article contends that non-skilled migration holds substantial value and deserves consideration.
This debate aligns with Noam Chomsky’s definition of national interests as the interests of the elite. This perspective may explain why billionaires like Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy support the continuation of skilled visas. However, a crucial benefit of non-skilled migration, particularly for migrants’ countries of origin, is often overlooked.
Consider Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021. Many educated youths and elites, who played significant roles in the previous government’s operations and its subsequent failures, swiftly fled the country. They were evacuated by the United States…