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1245 points mriguy | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.227s | source
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guyzero ◴[] No.45306779[source]
Everyone in these threads always points out all sorts of issues with the H1B system, which are mostly true, but it's not like there's a suggestion for a replacement here. This is a de facto shutdown of the program, not a reform. I'd be happy to see a reformed skilled immigration program for the US, but this isn't it.

The US makes up about 4.5% of the global population and it seems silly to think that the FAANG companies and the new AI startups chasing behind them are going to restrict their hiring to this tiny slice of the global talent pool.

The only effect this is going to have is accelerating the offshoring of jobs through more hiring in India, Europe and Canada, which is a net loss for the US.

I myself became a US citizen two years ago after being on a H1B. I was paid the same as all my peers and for all its shortcomings the program worked for me. It stunning to think this has been closed off, killing the main path for skilled immigration into the US.

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TMWNN ◴[] No.45307319[source]
>The only effect this is going to have is accelerating the offshoring of jobs through more hiring in India

Such offshoring was possible before and after today.

Put another way, if all the H-1B jobs really can be offshored quickly and easily the way so many Indians and anti-Trump people here and elsewhere confidently predict, *that would have happened already*.

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1. Jyaif ◴[] No.45307643[source]
The offshoring has started happening in the last 2 years in some of the big companies, by for example opening offices in Eastern Europe.

I suspect it didn't happen before because these companies were more focused on growth than efficiency.

That being said, thanks to AI parts of the big companies are again focused on growth at all cost.