A prominent Silicon Valley venture capitalist has ignited a heated debate over the quality of foreign engineering talent entering the United States through the H1B visa program. In a strongly worded post on X, investor Asha Jadeja Motwani argued that the U.S. must significantly reduce the number of H1B visas and restrict them to only the world’s top-tier tech professionals.
Motwani said that while America has long benefited from attracting exceptional global engineers, an influx of what she termed “mediocre” talent risks diluting the program’s original intent. “Mediocre engineering talent coming to the US on H1B visas is a bad idea. These positions must go to native-born Americans,” she wrote.
She credited elite foreign engineers with giving U.S. technology companies a strategic advantage over global competitors, particularly China. “America is doing the right thing by identifying and attracting top talent from around the world. This is giving American technology companies a strategic edge,” she noted.
However, her key message was the need for tighter controls: “All in all, H1B visas must be reduced in number so that we reserve those visas for absolutely top talent.”
The remarks drew swift backlash on social media, especially from Indian tech professionals who view the H1B program as a vital pathway to global career growth. Critics accused the comments of fueling anti-immigrant sentiment and overlooking deeper challenges such as gaps in domestic STEM education and workforce development.
Motwani’s comments have reopened long-standing debates around immigration policy, talent quality, and the future of America’s tech competitiveness.
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