Musk vs Miller... Trump’s Second Term 'High-Skilled Immigration' Showdown

Trump Administration Divided on High-Skilled Immigration
Silicon Valley Hopes for Musk

As the Trump administration's second term is expected to adopt an anti-immigration stance, big tech companies led by Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO and a key figure, are reportedly pressuring for the acceptance of highly skilled immigrants, Politico reported on the 1st (local time). This is likely to cause conflicts with the Trump administration's hardliners who seek to restrict immigration.

During Donald Trump's first term as U.S. president, Silicon Valley companies tried to persuade the administration of the need for highly skilled immigrants. However, these efforts were thwarted by Stephen Miller, then a senior White House advisor who spearheaded the hardline immigration policies. Miller has been appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the second-term administration.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News

Having faced setbacks before, tech companies have now secured a powerful ally in Musk, who is Trump’s "first buddy" and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has long argued that "legal immigration to the U.S. is unreasonably slow and difficult even for very talented people. This needs to be fixed." Musk himself is an immigrant. Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and others have also made highly skilled immigration a key agenda item.

Silicon Valley sees the next administration as an opportunity to pass policies that attract more capable immigrants in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Although this may seem contrary to the Trump administration’s tough stance on illegal immigration, it is explained that if the influx of highly skilled immigrants is framed as a way to make America more competitive, more legal immigrants can be secured.

Tech lobbying groups have long urged an increase in STEM immigrants, arguing that there are not enough tech experts to meet America’s long-term strategic goals. During the Biden administration, efforts to include expanded highly skilled immigration provisions in the CHIPS and Science Act (CSA) were blocked by Republican senators. However, Politico analyzed that the situation could change under Trump, who is close to tech billionaires and tough on illegal immigration. Trump has opposed illegal immigration strongly but said last June that foreign students who graduate from U.S. universities should automatically receive green cards (permanent residency).

Linda Moore, CEO of the tech industry group TechNet, said they are working with the Trump transition team to discuss ways to increase highly skilled immigration. Moore plans to pressure for expanded highly skilled immigration through Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency led by Vivek Ramaswamy. Other STEM immigration advocates are also urging attention to this issue.

Senior Republican figures are also positive about highly skilled immigration. House Speaker Mike Johnson recently said, "We need work visas. We should encourage legal immigration."

However, on the opposing side of Musk and tech companies are immigration hardliners including former advisor Miller. They warn that foreign STEM workers take jobs from Americans and lower wages in the high-tech industry.

Anti-immigration group NumbersUSA said, "The American people voted for weaker immigration policies." Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, said he does not oppose a slight increase in STEM immigration but insists that all changes must be accompanied by much stricter immigration law enforcement. He also expects Miller and others to be a strong force opposing a large increase in highly skilled immigration.