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Trump to impose $100k fee for H-1B worker visas, White House says

(www.reuters.com)
1245 points mriguy | 13 comments | 19 Sep 25 19:59 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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roughly ◴[19 Sep 25 20:40 UTC] No.45306289[source]▶
I think there’s plenty of interesting debates to be had about immigration policy and its effects on the labor market, but one thing worth noting here is that the primary problem that damn near every other country on earth has isn’t immigration, it’s brain drain.

A core strategic strength of the US over the last century has been that everyone with any talent wants to come here to work, and by and large we’ve let them do so. You can argue how well that’s worked out for us - having worked with a great many extremely talented H1bs in an industry largely built by immigrants, I’d consider it pretty positive - but it damn sure hasn’t worked out well for the countries those talented folks came from.

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jpadkins ◴[19 Sep 25 20:49 UTC] No.45306392[source]▶
The top end of H1B has been great for America. In the last few decades, there has been growth of abuse of the program to get mid level talent at below market rates which really hurts the middle class in America. People need to understand that most reformists don't want to get rid of the truly exceptional immigration to the US. We need to limit the volume, especially the immigrants that are directly competing with a hollowed out middle class in the US. Let me know if you want further reading on this topic.
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1. RealityVoid ◴[19 Sep 25 20:53 UTC] No.45306429[source]▶
I am skeptical that _that_ is what's hollowing the middle class in America, it's equally easy to point to income inequality for this. But you have your story you believe, I'm resigned that the die are already cast.

It's kind of sad to see the accelerated downfall of your country.

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2. vntok ◴[19 Sep 25 21:00 UTC] No.45306520[source]▶
> But you have your story you believe, I'm resigned that the die are already cast.

But that is your story you believe, consider that the parent commenter has the exact same (mirrored) mindset.

A useful segue to avoid you or them "being resigned": given that you say you're "skeptical", what would be the minimal proof you'd consider valid for you to change your mind?

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3. jpadkins ◴[19 Sep 25 21:19 UTC] No.45306750[source]▶
It's not the only reason, but it's one of the likely causes. Like most complex issues, it's multi-casual. You can't import 100k+ workers per year into a country and have no effect on wages! I understand the net economic impact is potentially positive, but I am speaking to the direct economic impact of the workers being displaced.
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4. jpadkins ◴[19 Sep 25 21:29 UTC] No.45306873[source]▶
> it's equally easy to point to income inequality for this

Have you ever considered what causes income inequality? Maybe policy that favors globalist, ownership class over salaried workers? H1B in it's current form favors owners/managers over workers! We are saying the same thing. We have to analyze the causes of income inequality in order to solve it.

I will leave you with one last thought: the states with the lowest gini co-efficient are the ones that have been more conservative over time https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ...

policy matters!

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5. giantg2 ◴[19 Sep 25 21:40 UTC] No.45306992[source]▶
"it's equally easy to point to income inequality for this."

Of course - they're connected. Taking advantage of labor is a big part of income inequality, including the way H1B is used/abused.

6. giantg2 ◴[19 Sep 25 21:43 UTC] No.45307027[source]▶
Just to add, we are also offshoring 300k jobs every year. This makes the impact even larger.
7. RealityVoid ◴[19 Sep 25 21:43 UTC] No.45307032[source]▶
The discussion is already dead, there's no point trying to convince anyone because the discussion is politicized and the current admin doesn't care about petty things like reality. Whoever is right won't matter in this stage, it matters who's saying it.

I might be wrong, fully willing to cede the point, but this whole thing going on is more than _just this point_.

8. selimthegrim ◴[19 Sep 25 21:56 UTC] No.45307181[source]▶
I am writing you from one of the two red Southern ones that is a glaring counterexample.
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9. 3cKU ◴[20 Sep 25 00:55 UTC] No.45308692{3}[source]▶
"the states with the lowest gini co-efficient are the ones that are the least diverse" seems a better fit.
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10. mlrtime ◴[20 Sep 25 04:04 UTC] No.45310264{4}[source]▶
Diversity is just a statistic, it's neither good or bad in either direction.
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11. harimau777 ◴[20 Sep 25 11:36 UTC] No.45312429{3}[source]▶
The Southern states that I'm aware of which have "strong economies" got that way by slashing worker and environmental protections. I don't think that's actually a compelling counterexample.
12. ThunderSizzle ◴[20 Sep 25 11:47 UTC] No.45312504{5}[source]▶
Not all forms of diversity is strength.

Mixing a wolf with a bunch of sheep isn't diversity, it's dinner time.

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13. defrost ◴[20 Sep 25 11:54 UTC] No.45312534{6}[source]▶
Racial purity ain't all it's heil'd up to be either: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-38571-1 https://www.newscientist.com/article/2342731-neanderthal-fam...

Have a barbie, find some middle ground: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGdj1TwBU1w