Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has reignited criticism of the H-1B visa program, asserting it displaces well-paid American jobs with lower-wage foreign workers. This comes as the program's merits are being debated within the Republican Party.

Sanders argues that the primary purpose of the H-1B visa program, and similar initiatives, is not to recruit top talent but to supplant American workers with cheaper labor from abroad, benefiting corporations at the expense of American workers. He shared these views on X (formerly Twitter).

A long-time opponent of the program, which permits U.S. companies to employ foreign workers in specialized fields, Sanders's criticism aligns with concerns, primarily from the right, that the program facilitates the replacement of American workers with cheaper foreign labor, particularly from India.

The program's role has become a point of contention within the Republican party following statements by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who is slated to lead the Department of Government Efficiency under Trump, advocating for the program's importance in attracting foreign talent to tech companies.

Musk defended the program, highlighting its role in enabling him and others to contribute to companies like SpaceX and Tesla. This has rekindled the debate on whether the program genuinely attracts the best talent or primarily serves as a means for companies to access cheaper labor.

Sanders presented data indicating that in 2022 and 2023, the top 30 companies utilizing the H-1B program laid off over 85,000 American employees while simultaneously hiring over 34,000 H-1B workers. He also noted that a significant portion of new IT jobs are filled by foreign guest workers and pointed to layoffs at Tesla.

Questioning the program's stated purpose, Sanders highlighted instances of H-1B visa holders employed in roles like dog trainers, massage therapists, and English teachers, questioning the rationale when qualified Americans are available.

While acknowledging potential labor shortages, Sanders advocated for significantly higher guest worker fees to fund opportunities for American workers and proposed reforms including increased minimum wages and enhanced job mobility.

Sanders argued that the promise of increased white-collar IT jobs offsetting blue-collar job losses due to free trade agreements has not materialized. He contends that corporations have not only outsourced manufacturing jobs but are now also filling available technology positions with lower-paid foreign guest workers.

This renewed criticism from Sanders comes days after President-elect Trump, who previously criticized H-1B visa abuse, expressed his ongoing support for the program, citing its use within his own businesses.