On Christmas Day Elon Musk ignited a firestorm on X with a post that advocated for the doubling of H-1B visas.
This set off a firestorm within the MAGA base. Steve Bannon, Jack Posobiec and others called for the outright ban of the H-1B program, calling it a form of indentured servitude. Other users began pointing out the wide variety of jobs employers request through the H-1B program, including 7 Eleven cashiers, secretaries and entry level accountants.
But not letting an opportunity go to waste, some in the anti all guestworker and visa programs space, most notably Jack Posobiec, started calling for the elimination of the H-2B program.
But what was most telling was how few of his followers understood what the H-2B program even is. Heck, even President Trump confused the two programs. “I have many H-1B visas on my properties,” he told The New York Post. “I’ve been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It’s a great program.” A recent Unleash Prosperity poll showed, when explained the rules and regulations of the program, 69% of Trump voters support the program.
But, as we well know, Trump is a user of the H-2 programs. Mar-a-Lago petitions for more than 80 H-2B beneficiaries a year. Although he may not know the name of the program he uses, he does understand it well. He defended it frequently in the 2016 campaign and in meetings we have had with him, is well versed on the intricacies of the program.
We should view this as a an opportunity to educate the American people, members of Congress and incoming administration officials on the merits of the program, highlighting the differences with the H-1B program. For instance, the H-2B program is a program for seasonal workers. The workers come in, work, then go home. In H-1B, the workers are awarded a three year visa. In H-2B, employers must hire Americans first. In H-1B, there is not U.S. labor market test.
The H-2B program is a model guest worker program. American workers are protected, workers do not immigrate, workers’ families stay in their home countries, and American businesses are supported. This is golden opportunity for the Trump administration and members of Congress to educate the American people on the merits of the program and include program expansion in the border security bill.