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1245 points mriguy | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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bhouston ◴[] No.45308820[source]
This is actually smart. Many H1B visas are used to undermine fair labor wages for already local talent. We should ensure that H1B visas are for actual unique talent and not just to undercut local wages.

H1B is ripe with abuse - this article by Bloomberg says that half of all H1-B visas are used by Indian staffing firms that pay significantly lower than the US laborers they are replacing:

- https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2025-h1b-visa-middlemen-c...

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mikeryan ◴[] No.45308961[source]
This is idiotic. We’re already pushing China and India into a partnership with Russia. The sheer volume of people in those countries mean “on average” more brilliant people than we do.

The US competitive advantage is built on us being a destination for the best and brightest. Between this and the crackdown foreign students at US Universities why would the anyone want to come here?

The misuse of H1Bs is a small problem compared to the value it provides.

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rxyz ◴[] No.45308995[source]
The best and brightest are worth the extra $100k tax, no?
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hdjrudni ◴[] No.45309253[source]
Doubtful. Not sure I'd be hired. I was hired at like $160k/yr. Would my employer have paid over half my wages to import me? I'm not so sure. Am I not bright enough? Do ya'all not want me here? It's possible. I'm no genius but I think I'm pretty good at my job and I dare say above average, and I don't think my employer could fill all the positions they have with equal or greater talent with only American citizens.
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1. atonse ◴[] No.45309822{3}[source]
Speaking as an employer, I’d be a lot more picky if I was going to sponsor a candidate to make sure I could make my investment back. (We’ve never sponsored someone though)

The potentially sad thing/abuse that might come out of this is that employers will keep even higher margins from the H1 person and make them pay back that money faster. Even through some shady deal back in their home country.

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2. ◴[] No.45310582[source]