WASHINGTON: ‘H1-B should be reserved for top talent, not mediocre….’: Indian-origin venture capitalist says ‘visas must be reduced in number’

WASHINGTON: Indian-origin venture capitalist Asha Jadeja Motwani doubled down on her view that US must restrict H-1B visas only to the world’s “top talent.” She said the programme should not be used to let “mediocre” engineering workers from foreign countries storm US. Her comments come a week after she claimed she had influenced US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on the H-1B visa system, and even said she was one of the main reasons the POTUS took a U-turn on his earlier hardline immigration stance.

Motwani took to X and said America is right to attract top global talent, but mediocre candidates should not take positions that belong to native-born Americans.
“About my position on H1B visas, let me clarify once again, so there is no ambiguity. I do believe that America is doing the right thing by identifying and attracting top talent from around the world, especially for our technology sector. This is giving American technology companies, a strategic edge over foreign companies, especially those in China,” she said.

She made a cleart distinction. “That said mediocre engineering talent coming to US on H1B Visas is a bad idea. These positions must go to native born Americans.”

Motwani added that the visa programme should be sharply curtailed to ensure that only exceptional candidates qualify. “All in all H1B visas must be reduced in number so that we reserve those visas for absolutely top talent.”

About my position on H1B visas, let me clarify once again, so there is no ambiguity. I do believe that America is doing the right thing by identifying and attracting top talent from around the world, especially for our technology sector. This is giving American technology…
Her remarks follow a string of posts last week in which she said she had discussed the value of Indian talent, H1-B with both Trump and vice president JD Vance. Motwani wrote that she and her late husband, Stanford computer science professor Rajeev Motwani, would have struggled to enter the US under today’s climate. She also said she had engaged with the Trump-Vance circle at Mar-a-Lago and slammed wealthy Indian-Americans for failing to lobby for India’s interests in Washington.

Motwani has argued that the United States benefits strategically from welcoming exceptional Indian talent but insists the system cannot be diluted.

The debate over H-1B visas continues to stir the Republican base after Trump said in a Fox News interview earlier this month that the United States lacks sufficient domestic talent and needs skilled foreign workers to fill roles in the technology and defence sectors. The POTUS’s remarks were seen by many in the MAGA base as a betrayal of the America First agenda, a reaction that ultimately contributed to Republican congresswoman and long-time Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene quitting amid a feud with the President.