Billionaire Elon Musk assured that he will defend the H-1B visa program, which allows highly qualified immigrants to work in the United States. With this he came out in front of the usual supporters of President-elect Donald Trump, who maintain a hard line on immigration matters.
Elon Musk vowed to go to “war” to defend the H-1B visa program for foreign tech workers late Friday, amid a dispute between longtime supporters of President-elect Donald Trump and his newest backers from the technology industry.
In a post on the social media platform to the United States is thanks to the H1B.”
“I'm going to go to war on this issue,” he added.
Musk, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in South Africa, has been an H-1B visa holder, and his electric car company Tesla obtained 724 such visas this year. H-1B visas usually have a duration of three years, although their holders can extend them or apply for a residence card.
Musk's tweet was directed at Trump supporters and immigration hardliners, who have increasingly pushed for the elimination of the H-1B visa program amid a heated debate over immigration and the place occupied by qualified immigrants and foreign workers brought to the country on work visas.
So far, Trump has remained silent on the issue. The Trump transition did not respond to a request for comment on Musk's tweets and the H-1B visa debate.