From Beneficiary To Critic: Ramaswamy's Stance on H-1B Visas Shifts In Presidential Race

In the run-up to the 2024 elections, GOP presidential contender Vivek Ramaswamy is voicing stringent objections to the H-1B visa system, despite his former firm, Roivant Sciences, having significantly utilized this program.

What Happened: The entrepreneur, whose parents immigrated to the U.S., is championing a more restrictive immigration policy, advocating for a merit-based approach to replace the existing lottery of the H-1B system, reported Politico. 

“The lottery system needs to be replaced by actual meritocratic admission. It’s a form of indentured servitude that only accrues to the benefit of the company that sponsored an H-1B immigrant. I’ll gut it,” Ramaswamy said in a statement.

According to the report, the presidential candidate further criticized chain migration, insisting that family members who migrate do not necessarily bring skill-based contributions to the country.

While Ramaswamy relinquished his CEO position at Roivant in early 2021, he retained a pivotal role as the chairman of the board until February 2023, the month he announced his presidential bid.

Also Read: Vivek Ramaswamy Says He Is Open To Hunter Biden Pardon, Claims Case 'Is A Total Fig Leaf'

The company, boasting 825 U.S.-based full-time employees out of a total of 904 as of the end of March, has a history of leveraging the H-1B visa system.

Responding to the apparent discrepancy between Ramaswamy's proposed policy and his past business practices, spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin emphasized that a policymaker's duty is to prioritize the nation's overarching interests.

She analogized the situation to using essential utilities despite recognizing the flawed regulations governing the U.S. energy sector, saying, “This is the same.”

Ramaswamy has proposed employing military force for border security and expressed support for the deportation of U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants.

However, the presidential candidate acknowledged his immigrant background during a GOP debate in Milwaukee, highlighting his parents' humble beginnings and his journey to establishing billion-dollar companies.

The demand for H-1B visas remains high, with U.S. firms reportedly submitting 780,884 applications for merely 85,000 available spots in fiscal 2021, indicating a surge of over 60%.

Now Read: From Tech To Politics? Vivek Ramaswamy Considers Elon Musk For White House: 'I Expect Him To Be An Interesting Advisor'

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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