JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the H-1B visa program during a news conference on Monday, criticizing how certain tech companies lay off American workers to replace them with H-1B visa holders.
DeSantis labeled the policy as exploitative, akin to “almost indentured servitude,” since visa holders are often tied to one employer. He also said it does not prioritize American workers or serve the country’s best interests.
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“Yes, it is legal the way they’re doing it. I acknowledge that they’re using something that’s on the books, but is that good policy for us as a country to have Americans put out of work and then to bring in H-1B visas, and then they do chain migration from the H-1B?” DeSantis said.
The H-1B was created as part of the 1990 Immigration Act.
It is a type of nonimmigrant visa, meaning it allows for a temporary stay in the U.S. and is not intended for people who want to immigrate permanently. Some eventually do, but only after transitioning to different immigration statuses. An H-1B allows employers to hire foreign workers who have specialized skills and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
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DeSantis’ criticism regarding H-1B visas came amid an ongoing debate within the Republican Party on whether these visas benefit American workers.
According to The New York Times, Vice President JD Vance also criticized companies that lay off their own employees and then hire foreign workers. However, some of Trump’s “most prominent backers in the tech industry” have said they rely on the program because of a lack of qualified American workers.
During the news conference, DeSantis also emphasized Florida’s enforcement of immigration laws, highlighting the state’s unique and robust approach to addressing illegal immigration and visa abuses.
A key development is the newly established Alligator Alcatraz facility in Florida, built rapidly to expedite the deportation process of undocumented immigrants who have been legally ordered to leave the country.
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DeSantis criticized the federal government’s previous lack of action under the Biden administration and stressed the necessity of state cooperation to enforce immigration laws effectively.
He also underscored the importance of border sovereignty and the rule of law, rejecting the open border policies and comprehensive immigration reforms he views as euphemisms for amnesty.
