An American worker made waves on Monday after calling for laws ‘targeting’ H1B visa holders for layoffs. The Amazon employee opined that such individuals did not have ties to the US beyond their jobs — with the option of returning to their home countries and looking for jobs. The post — shared anonymously on the TeamBlind website — has since sparked heated debate with many noting that the US was “built by immigrants”.
‘H-1B visa holders can just return to…’
“Layoffs need to target H1Bs first, here is why: Outside of employment, they do not have any ties to the US. If they get laid off, they can return to their home countries and look for jobs. Almost all of the H1B families preserve their culture, and even if they have kids here, those kids will not have any difficulty adjusting to their parents’ culture when they return,” the post began.
The anonymous user went on to add that they did not have any issue with H1B visa holders who “did not have race and religion blinders” and secured green cards after marrying local Americans. He also opined that people working on a visa could “rack up credit card bills, default on car or house loans, and leave the US Scott free”.
“We citizens have nowhere to go when we get laid off. We still have bills to pay. We cannot just default on our loans and exit the country. We have strong ties to the US given our families are here. Layoffs are not based on performance, so I have no clue why Congress doesn’t pass a law that prioritizes H1Bs and other temporary workers when companies lay off,” the post added.
‘It’s not about visa, it’s about skill’
The post has prompted sharp rebuttals from many on the professional networking site — while others insisted that it was a ‘moral and necessary’ move for the country to have a ‘cultural fabric’. Others agreed with the call for legal stipulations for unrelated reasons. Some in the comment section also urged the original poster to upskill and accused them of ‘spewing hate’.
“Good luck building America without H-1Bs. Your country stands on the shoulders of H-1Bs and all immigrants. Use the half braincell that you have to do your work at Amazon better and maybe you won’t be this bitter in life,” fumed one user.
“I agree that any company doing mass layoffs should be legally made to ‘sacrifice’ and relinquish rights to any foreign visa work permit first. But not for the reasons outlined here. It should be in economic principle only. It sends a strong message to companies that H1B and any other temporary foreign work authorization is a privilege, to successful companies only. It shall never be funded on the backs of domestic labor. Any company doing mass layoffs does not deserve H1B, L1, or H4 especially not OPT / CPT,” explained another.
“This post is a prime example of why US has to import talent from other countries. H1Bs are buying house here, investing in the US, they have everything to lose equally. Lol, I guess ignorance truly is bliss,” jibed a third.